I did 2 IVF cycles and 1 FET [with Dr. Shamonki], all back-to-back. 1st cycle was typical antagonist protocol. Midway through, my follicles were not growing evenly, and Dr. Shamonki upped the Follistim dose...2nd cycle, Dr. Shamonki adjusted the protocol to Microdose Lupron. That worked well and my follicles grew evenly. I had 95% fertilization rate with this protocol. I declined the ICSI procedure both times and appreciated Dr. Shamonki being flexible and never forcing anything.
We paid the cash rate [at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] since we didn't have insurance - $9,900 IVF bundle (includes 1 free transfer within a year), $4,400 for genetic testing (up to 8 embryos), $685 freezing cost, $550 anesthesia for retrieval, 2nd cycle bundle is discounted to $8,900...We were able to speak with one of the embryologists on the phone after retrieval (I requested this), and also the day of our transfer (I think this part is standard procedure here). The embryologist (Aaron) was fantastic - experienced, data-driven, and caring. Because I like to geek out, Aaron was able to answer all my questions related to embryology and made me feel at ease right before the transfer procedure. It's nice to know the cli
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki is a consummate physician, going above and beyond what you would expect from any doctor, let alone fertility doctors. He has a compassionate and warm bedside manner but at the same time is able to ensure trust with his deep experience and knowledge. I am the type of patient who likes to understand every detail and do my own research. Dr. Shamonki patiently answered every one of my questions and concerns, either during the appointments or via messaging (always a same-day response). His answers were all fact based and research supported. Also, he was open about disclosing conflicts of interest and made sure to point out both sides if any issue was controversial. Dr. Shamonki was originally recommended by a friend. Prior to selecting him, I had done consultations with 2 other fertility doctors in the Bay Area. Dr. Shamonki provided the most thorough and tailored analysis, and ultimately we picked him because of his fact-based approach, communication style, and willingness to answer our questions in advance of any treatment. Not to mention, his clinic results on SART.org are stellar (granted, SART data can be misleading and hard to understand). Despite being in the Bay Area, we "commuted" down for fertility treatments, and combined it with some local remote monitoring. We saw Dr. Shamonki every single appointment (at one of their 3 offices) since we came only for him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
As for any doctor appointment, prepare your questions in advance. Dr. Shamonki will always pause and give you the time, but you have to ask him the questions. Also, advice in general for fertility treatments is to be proactive and understand the process so you can follow along and track results. FertilityIQ was a fantastic resource for me as well and helped me tailor my questions for the doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki spent the full hour with us on our initial consultation, and really tailored his recommendations to our scenario. He has a compassionate yet knowledgeable bedside manner.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I did 2 IVF cycles and 1 FET, all back-to-back. 1st cycle was typical antagonist protocol. Midway through, my follicles were not growing evenly, and Dr. Shamonki upped the Follistim dose. This was no fault of Dr. Shamonki's - my body was not receptive to the protocol. I didn't end up with as many mature eggs, but the ones that fertilized grew to Day 5 blasts. 2nd cycle, Dr. Shamonki adjusted the protocol to Microdose Lupron. That worked well and my follicles grew evenly. I had 95% fertilization rate with this protocol. I declined the ICSI procedure both times and appreciated Dr. Shamonki being flexible and never forcing anything. Also, he checked in after every retrieval and provided results for Day 1, 3, 5 and 6. We stopped after 2 cycles as we achieved our goal for total number tested embryos. I then proceeded to frozen single transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Paulia (primary), and Megan)
My primary nurse was Paulina. She was fantastic in all regards - caring, responsive, thorough, knowledgeable. Paulina would respond to all my emails and questions within 1-2 days at most. Anything urgent I would call the phone lines directly and someone gets back to you within a few hours. I also worked frequently with Megan, who was also caring and knowledgeable. Each of the nurses provide helpful injection tips or other small tips to make the process just a bit easier. While I interacted the most with Paulina and Megan, the entire nursing team is professional and fantastic. There were really only 1 or 2 instances where I felt brushed off by another nurse who was doing a blood draw, but for the most part the team is all great. Finally, there were a couple instances where the information provided by the nurse conflicted with the doctor’s, in which case I followed the doctor’s approach. Nothing major, but something to be mindful of.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Dr. Shamonki is one of 3 doctors in the FSAC clinic. I did not interact with the other 2 doctors, but all of the doctors share the lab facilities and embryology team. There are 3 offices (Thousand Oaks, Encino, Santa Monica). Dr. Shamonki rotates between all 3 offices. All retrievals and transfers are done in Thousand Oaks (since the lab is there). Since we commuted down to LA just for Dr. Shamonki, I saw him for every appointment and just drove to each different office. We did all our treatment during the middle of COVID, but felt safe with the clinic's procedures. All staff is masked and everything is sanitized well. We were able to speak with one of the embryologists on the phone after retrieval (I requested this), and also the day of our transfer (I think this part is standard procedure here). The embryologist (Aaron) was fantastic - experienced, data-driven, and caring. Because I like to geek out, Aaron was able to answer all my questions related to embryology and made me feel at ease right before the transfer procedure. It's nice to know the clinic is also well versed with ICSI (we opted out) and biopsy for genetic testing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
We paid the cash rate since we didn't have insurance - $9,900 IVF bundle (includes 1 free transfer within a year), $4,400 for genetic testing (up to 8 embryos), $685 freezing cost, $550 anesthesia for retrieval, 2nd cycle bundle is discounted to $8,900
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Dr. Shamonki recommended eSET for us since we also genetic tested the embryos. I believe it is now the recommended approach, unless the patient has a specific situation that would warrant multiple embryo transfers.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Very occasionally, the nurses sometimes provide conflicting information from what Dr. Shamonki recommends. In this case, I just went with what Dr. Shamonki recommended.
Dr Shamonki was honest, transparent, and very communicative...was incredibly compassionate and clear in every conversation we had with him. All questions were answered...took the time to ensure we felt confident in our next steps...IVF protocol seemed fairly standard...biopsy and dye test done while I was asleep for the egg retrieval
whole staff [at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] is wonderful...are supportive, go the extra steps to make you more comfortable, and take the time to make sure you’re ok...Their on-call service is so helpful too. Any issues I had, I could call and speak with a qualified staff member to put my mind at ease and guide me through next steps.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki was honest, transparent, and very communicative. He was incredibly compassionate and clear in every conversation we had with him. All questions were answered and he took the time to ensure we felt confident in our next steps.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
The practice is set up well to service patients on any day at any time. If you feel strongly about seeing only the same doctor, at every visit, this might not be for you. Though I’m not sure that’s possible with the specific and stringent way fertility treatments have to work.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
In every appointment, we never felt rushed. Dr Shamonki and his staff always patiently answered questions, talked through concerns, and spent time understanding everything we were asking and vice versa.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Our IVF protocol seemed fairly standard. One of the things I appreciated most was the biopsy and dye test done while I was asleep for the egg retrieval. It was found that I had some inflammation in my uterine lining that could’ve hindered my success for the transfer. We did two cycles on antibiotics (and two additional biopsies) to clear it before the transfer which was successful.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Megan, Katie, and everyone actually)
The whole staff was so warm, patient, and thoughtful. They guided me through all questions and stayed to watch me if they got even the slightest hint that I might not be ok. No question felt stupid to ask them because they understood how emotionally and physically taxing the process is.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The whole staff here is wonderful. They are supportive, go the extra steps to make you more comfortable, and take the time to make sure you’re ok. For example, I’ve never NOT felt my blood being drawn except at FSAC. Their on-call service is so helpful too. Any issues I had, I could call and speak with a qualified staff member to put my mind at ease and guide me through next steps.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Costs of IVF are high but this was estimated $5-10K cheaper than UCLA.
Dr shamonki is very calm and nice when you are around him. He is really good at making us feel listened and heard at every visits. My wife and I were very satisfied with his care, every questions we had were always nicely and fast answered. I know Dr. Shamonki was very busy and sometimes the appointments were going very fast so he did not have time to explain every little details which was a little problematic sometimes, but I greatly appreciate being able to write to him or the nurse and have a quick answers to any concerns.
The [Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] clinic was always very clean and welcoming. The time of wait for follows up appointment was sometimes a little bit longer than expected, but other than that the whole clinic experience was very good...The staff was always very very nice to every visits...I did not have the chance to meet Jamie my Nurse one time. I was able to communicate with her over emails, but the response were often long to come back or sometime would not come back and I had to reach to another nurse. During the orientation phone call, Jamie was very nice and professional always.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr shamonki is very calm and nice when you are around him. He is really good at making us feel listened and heard at every visits. My wife and I were very satisfied with his care, every questions we had were always nicely and fast answered. I know Dr. Shamonki was very busy and sometimes the appointments were going very fast so he did not have time to explain every little details which was a little problematic sometimes, but I greatly appreciate being able to write to him or the nurse and have a quick answers to any concerns.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Do not hesitate asking questions, come with what is on your mind already and make sure to ask anything you have in mind. Fertility treatment can be very stressful and sometimes we forget to ask important questions. Don’t be shy to reach out when you can to get answers to any little things, with so many patients to see I can see how easily it is for doctors to get caught up quickly and forget to explain things they think we already know.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I was happily surprise with the way Dr. Shamonki talk to me, but also my wife. He made sure to help answer all the questions my wife had as she was not had familiar with the process as I was. He did not made us feel like we were only a good transaction to him. The first consultation was done very professionally and in a calm and personal environment.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I had the egg retrieval medication for 10 days on gonal and menopure injection. My body reacted really well to the treatment and we were able to retrieved 25 eggs. For the transfert I have to do progesterone and estrogen 3 times a days until the end of the first trimester which clearly worked very well since we have now a positive pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Jamie)
Unfortunately I did not have the chance to meet Jamie my Nurse one time. I was able to communicate with her over emails, but the response were often long to come back or sometime would not come back and I had to reach to another nurse. During the orientation phone call, Jamie was very nice and professional always.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The staff was always very very nice to every visits. The clinic was always very clean and welcoming. The time of wait for follows up appointment was sometimes a little bit longer than expected, but other than that the whole clinic experience was very good
While he [Dr. Shamonki] was very nice, he was completely unprepared for the consultation. Despite my having filled out the clinic's 15 pages of very detailed patient forms (submitted prior to the appointment), as well as having sent records...he had not looked at any of it. None of it. It was clear that he hadn't even glanced at it. This is a huge red flag for me. How can I trust a provider who doesn't even glance at my information beforehand? Infertility is complex, it's not cookie cutter, and the provider has a duty to review the records before meeting the patient
They [Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] will verbally tell you about the cost of certain procedures after your consultation, but you have to make a separate appointment with a financial nurse in order to receive the prices of services. Ultrasounds are $175, the actual insemination for IUI is $160, a comprehensive IVF cycle is $9900, a repeat cycle is $8900, a comprehensive FET is $4900...
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
D. Shamonki met with my husband and I for a consultation for secondary infertility after a second trimester loss. While he was very nice, he was completely unprepared for the consultation. Despite my having filled out the clinic's 15 pages of very detailed patient forms (submitted prior to the appointment), as well as having sent records from my previous OB, my D&C surgery for my miscarriage, my post-loss miscarriage and immune testing by both the OB and my rheumatologist, and the records from the fertility clinic I was planning to transfer from, he had not looked at any of it. None of it. It was clear that he hadn't even glanced at it. This is a huge red flag for me. How can I trust a provider who doesn't even glance at my information beforehand? Infertility is complex, it's not cookie cutter, and the provider has a duty to review the records before meeting the patient. My spouse and I made the decision never to go back before we'd even left the building.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
If you want a provider who is going to look deeply into your situation, go elsewhere.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Nurses seemed nice enough, but other than the nurse who briefly reviewed next steps for us after I received an ultrasound, I didn't have interaction with them.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I only did a consultation, so I have no insight into what the clinic's strengths and weaknesses are. Mostly, I'm just extremely disappointed in how little the doctor knew about my case, despite my having provided him with all my records.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
They will verbally tell you about the cost of certain procedures after your consultation, but you have to make a separate appointment with a financial nurse in order to receive the prices of services. Ultrasounds are $175, the actual insemination for IUI is $160, a comprehensive IVF cycle is $9900, a repeat cycle is $8900, a comprehensive FET is $4900
Dr. Shamonki wasn't interested in the information I provided on those cycles and didn't seem to adjust the protocol...he doesn't seem to be detail-oriented or meticulous about tailoring the protocol to your specific needs. Some of this may be a result of the disorganization in the clinic. Regardless, it seemed to have a huge impact on my cycle and resulted in the worst of 7 cycles (the others were all with other clinics)...
Santa Monica was a satellite office [of Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] and only open 2 days a week - Didn't seem to do anything with all the records I requested from prior clinic - gave me the wrong appointment date - gave me the wrong date to stop BCP priming - didn't call in prescription in a timely manner - was so unorganized and didn't have digital access so I didn't know what my results were or what was happening during the cycle, and then they were unable to send files/reports to the clinic I switched to...
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki is knowledgeable and takes the time to answer questions. He has a warm manner while being direct, which is why my partner and I chose to work with him. However, he doesn't seem to be detail-oriented or meticulous about tailoring the protocol to your specific needs. Some of this may be a result of the disorganization in the clinic. Regardless, it seemed to have a huge impact on my cycle and resulted in the worst of 7 cycles (the others were all with other clinics).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Find a different clinic.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
The clinic was very disorganized and communication was extremely challenging. Despite me having prior ER cycles, Dr. Shamonki wasn't interested in the information I provided on those cycles and didn't seem to adjust the protocol. I had to remind him of my RPL and past cycles more than once and he seemed surprised. The clinic didn't use a digital database like e-ivf so it was hard to track information. More than once during the cycle I needed to confirm information and it was really hard to get a hold of them, and it seemed like they passed on the wrong information (like telling me to continue BCP until Sunday and then saying when I came in for the appointment "you stopped taking BCP on Wednesday, right?"). It gave me the feeling that they totally messed up my cycle from the start. Additionally, they advertise a Santa Monica office, but it's only open half the week. If your timing requires you to get testing and an ultrasound on a day it's closed, you have to go to their Encino or Thousand Oaks office
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
BCP priming, max dosage of follistim in an antagonist protocol, HCG priming, clomid, HCG trigger. Dr. Shamonki didn't explain why he was selecting this protocol, and when asked if he had reviewed my prior cycles I had already supplied, he then adjusted the cycle slightly. I would have thought this would have been considered first without prompting.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Paulina)
The office did not use eIVF or any other digital record organization so it felt very haphazard. It was unclear if records that I sent in were actually reviewed by the doctor (it seems like they weren't), and the team did not give any indication that they're Santa Monica office was only open two days a week and you would have to go to Encino for ultrasounds and testing if they didn't fall on those two days (adding 2 hours of commute time). Communication was by email which was helpful, but responses were not always prompt. There were delays in sending in prescriptions leading to a ton of anxiety when FedEx missed a delivery and I had to chase them all over town to get the meds before they closed for the night.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
They do not have the staff to successfully operate a satellite office in Santa Monica. Miscommunication, missed or bungled meds instructions, and the lack of detailed organization made it feel like the protocol wasn't being tailored to my needs. The result was the worst of 7 cycles.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Long wait times
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
$10k package
$1k not included in package
$2k PGT
$4k meds
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
-Didn't inform me that Santa Monica was a satellite office and only open 2 days a week
- Didn't seem to do anything with all the records I requested from prior clinic
- gave me the wrong appointment date
- gave me the wrong date to stop BCP priming
- didn't call in prescription in a timely manner
- was so unorganized and didn't have digital access so I didn't know what my results were or what was happening during the cycle, and then they were unable to send files/reports to the clinic I switched to.
Dr. Shamonki is a compassionate doctor. My visit at the beginning of the cycle after my failed IUI, when he entered the room, the first thing he asked me was how was I feeling. He explains everything and takes his time to answer all our questions. He seems to be very pragmatic. He doesn’t have anything to recommend as far as supplements go. ... He is always willing to answer all my questions. He is very patient and compassionate. There were a few visits where he seemed rushed, just in the room long enough to wand me and then out. On those occasions, I forgot all my questions and just said hi and bye, basically. But when I stop him, he will take the time to talk. ...
There are 3 locations [of Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] which can get confusing. But I can pick where I want to go, provided that the doctor is at the location I want to go to on the day I can and need to go. I don’t know if this is nurse/coordinator dependent, but each location uses different methods for the paperwork they give you at the end of the visit. At each visit, when a plan for that cycle is determined, you see the coordinator who goes over everything with you and makes sure the meds are ordered. One makes a neat calendar to show what to take when and when to “do it”. Another makes a list. Small detail.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki is a compassionate doctor. My visit at the beginning of the cycle after my failed IUI, when he entered the room, the first thing he asked me was how was I feeling.
He explains everything and takes his time to answer all our questions.
He seems to be very pragmatic.
He doesn’t have anything to recommend as far as supplements go. When I asked about CoQ10, he said that there is no evidence it helps with humans. He is a fact-based doctor who will not recommend anything that isn’t proven undisputedly. Which makes sense since he’s a doctor!
He is hosting a webinar this week about protecting and preparing your fertility, which is great! He was going to host a fertility yoga workshop but that was canceled due to coronavirus.
He never made us feel pressured to do anything. If I suggested something he was always willing to entertain or shoot me down, with explanation, depending on the situation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
If you have questions or just want the process of your treatments explained in more detail, don’t be afraid to ask questions. He is happy to answer but if you don’t ask your visits might be super brief.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is always willing to answer all my questions. He is very patient and compassionate. There were a few visits where he seemed rushed, just in the room long enough to wand me and then out. On those occasions, I forgot all my questions and just said hi and bye, basically. But when I stop him, he will take the time to talk.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Before seeing Dr. Shamonki, I had 3 losses. I did all the bloodwork with another specialist who I didn’t have treatments with. Dr. Shamonki determined our problem is unexplained infertility. His rationale for our treatments were based on the fact that we can get pregnant and we don’t have any issues that are preventing us from having a successful pregnancy aside from age. We just need to find the good egg!
First round I used Clomid with timed intercourse. We didn’t jump to IUI since we know we can get pregnant. My uterine lining was a little thin so the next month I switched to Letrozole, again with timed intercourse. Then we decided to do IUI, again with Letrozole. I ovulated early so we missed the window and couldn’t do the IUI that month. So the next month we tried again, same protocol. And still no positive pregnancy test. The last month, we switched to injectables and we were going to do IUI again. However, we had to cancel that cycle due to coronavirus.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Everyone is sweet and caring. They always call back same day, within well under an hour is what I recall. There have been a couple of points of confusion, being told or prescribed the wrong process for taking meds for example. But overall I appreciate all the nurses so much.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
There are 3 locations which can get confusing. But I can pick where I want to go, provided that the doctor is at the location I want to go to on the day I can and need to go.
I don’t know if this is nurse/coordinator dependent, but each location uses different methods for the paperwork they give you at the end of the visit. At each visit, when a plan for that cycle is determined, you see the coordinator who goes over everything with you and makes sure the meds are ordered. One makes a neat calendar to show what to take when and when to “do it”. Another makes a list. Small detail.
The Encino location was most convenient for me but they weren’t set up for IUIs (I think they might be now). We went to Santa Monica for that procedure and they don’t have a room for the guys to “produce!” If we go that route again, my partner said he’ll get a hotel room so he can make his sample there so he can get it to the office within an hour. It takes well over an hour to get to Santa Monica from our house and that’s too long for the swimmers to wait.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
$175 for ultrasounds during treatment cycles
$360 for IUI including sperm washing (I believe)
$90 for progesterone blood test (I believe)
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I believe he will only transfer one embryo. I haven’t done IVf so I don’t know for sure.
He [Dr. Shamonki] conducted detailed medical interviews of myself and my partner, as well as physical tests and post-testing consultations. In the face of sometimes difficult news, we found that Dr. Shamonki communicated clearly and was realistic, yet optimistic and postive about treatment options. He feels like a partner in the journey...treated us both with a high level of respect, kindness, and personal concern for our fertility struggles and goals.
The Clinic [Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] is beautiful and modern. The waiting room, exam rooms, and offices are inviting, nicely decorated, and clean and professional. It's a gorgeous clinic, with sufficient parking and a good amount of privacy...A cycle of IVF is ~$20K...I recall that Dr. Shamonki and the FSAC clinic have a strong preference for eSET over mutliple embryo transfer...
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki is first and foremost a medical professional and expert in reproductive health, infertility, and leading-edge treatment options. He conducted detailed medical interviews of myself and my partner, as well as physical tests and post-testing consultations. In the face of sometimes difficult news, we found that Dr. Shamonki communicated clearly and was realistic, yet optimistic and postive about treatment options. He feels like a partner in the journey and makes efforts (offering us his cell phone, connecting us with nurses) to help us feel supported. We are currently pursuing IVF treatment and are grateful to continue to work with Dr. Shamonki.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki has a lot of experience and expertise. If you come in with questions from personal research, it's a great opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of your infertility and treatment options.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki treated us both with a high level of respect, kindness, and personal concern for our fertility struggles and goals. He brings warmth, appropriate good-naturedness and humor, and honesty to each conversation. We felt understood and respected in each of our concerns and goals, and his professionalism and medical insights were exceptional.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
We are planning a standard IVF procedure
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nursing staff is professional, kind, positive, helpful and informed. They are able to answer questions and explain the procedures well. All nurses I have worked with performed the procedures efficiently and easily, reflecting their experience. I have been treated with compassion and respect.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The Clinic is beautiful and modern. The waiting room, exam rooms, and offices are inviting, nicely decorated, and clean and professional. It's a gorgeous clinic, with sufficient parking and a good amount of privacy.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
A cycle of IVF is ~$20K (~$10K in FSAC fees and ~$10K in fees to outside providers, pharmacies, etc).
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I recall that Dr. Shamonki and the FSAC clinic have a strong preference for eSET over mutliple embryo transfer, but may grant rare exceptions.
He [Dr. Mousa Shamonki] is very kind and open, if you ever have questions, he always stops what he's doing or finishes what he's doing to speak to you directly. He makes sure he is present with you when you speak or ask questions...He is a very gentle and patient person, he doesn't push, but informs and let's you make the best decision for you, while recommending changes as to support best outcomes. No matter what your situation he tailors to meet your needs.
Overall they are fast, efficient, always answer the phone, get messages where they need to go [at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California]. Communication between departments is pretty strong i.e. business office with front desk, etc. They are good about putting notes in the charts, that everyone who opens your chart reads. The on call service is great about locating your doctor in an emergency as well...Both of my nurses never took more than 24 hours to get back to me if contacted during normal business hours. Or I could call and leave them a message with the same results either by end of business day, or the next day. Only once or twice in the 10 months I was a patient did they take 48 hours to get back to me.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is a very gentle and patient person, he doesn't push, but informs and let's you make the best decision for you, while recommending changes as to support best outcomes. No matter what your situation he tailors to meet your needs.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Bring a list of questions to your visits, sometimes he is very busy, as are all RE's, and just go over basics, let you know current situation and go to next patient. There were so many times I would leave and think "oh man I wonder if we could do this?" or " what happens if a, b, or c?" When I had my pre thought out questions I always felt satisfied.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is very kind and open, if you ever have questions, he always stops what he's doing or finishes what he's doing to speak to you directly. He makes sure he is present with you when you speak or ask questions.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
The first embryo transfer we started with estrace, added progesterone supplementation by next visit, then a week later did our transfer.
The next embryo transfer we did estrace only longer and started progesterone supplementation 5 days prior to transfer. My lining actually grew 0.6 more before my transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Hillary Swann and Gail DAvanzo)
Both of my nurses never took more than 24 hours to get back to me if contacted during normal business hours. Or I could call and leave them a message with the same results either by end of business day, or the next day. Only once or twice in the 10 months I was a patient did they take 48 hours to get back to me.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Overall they are fast, efficient, always answer the phone, get messages where they need to go. Communication between departments is pretty strong i.e. business office with front desk, etc. They are good about putting notes in the charts, that everyone who opens your chart reads. The on call service is great about locating your doctor in an emergency as well.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The cost of using egg donor off site-$2000
FET package-$12,800
Additional Ultrasounds/labs (hcg's) post transfer-$190
Second FET-$5300
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
No, the research for a woman my age with minimal embryo's states safety and success weighs more on the side of the single embryo. I wanted a baby, and if my doctor said I had improved chances with a single then that's what I wanted to do.
Dr Shamonki wants to make sure you feel comfortable about the whole process. ... My husband and I felt very confident with him from our initial consultation. He made it very clear that his goal was to help us get pregnant and he didn't want to rush us into doing anything too extreme from the start. We feel like we have a pretty clear plan with him. ... Very rarely I have felt like my appointment was rushed. He is also great about getting back to emails when I come up with questions in-between visits.
I never have to wait long to be seen by my doctor and after my visit with the doctor there is a good structure of then visiting with a nurse for instructions and then billing (if needed). ... My favorite thing about this client is how organized and thorough it is. ... The nursing staff [Fertility & Surgical Assoc of CA] is great. Very friendly and easy to talk to. ... The waiting room and visit rooms are also very nice and clean.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki is great. My husband and I felt very confident with him from our initial consultation. He made it very clear that his goal was to help us get pregnant and he didn't want to rush us into doing anything too extreme from the start. We feel like we have a pretty clear plan with him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Dr Shamonki wants to make sure you feel comfortable about the whole process.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He usually takes the time to listen to my questions and concerns. Very rarely I have felt like my appointment was rushed. He is also great about getting back to emails when I come up with questions in-between visits.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
First cycle: 50mg of clomid + ovidrel shot+ IUI + Progestrone. The clomid had some effects on me and the IUI wasn't very painful.
Second cycle: We changed to 5mg letrozole + timed intercourse. No effects from the letrozole and no IUI because I was out of town.
Third Cycle: 5mg letrozole + timed intercourse. No IUI because I was again out of town.
Fourth Cycle: 5mg letrozole. We planned on doing an IUI, but I ovulated 5 days early, so we missed out window.
Fifth cycle: 5mg letrozole + Estrace + ovidrel shot+ IUI + Progestrone. Estrace was added to help my lining.
Sixth Cycle: 5mg letrozole + Estrace + ovidrel shot+ IUI + Progestrone.
None of these cycle resulted in pregnancy and we are starting our next steps towards IVF.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nursing staff is great. Very friendly and easy to talk to.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
My favorite thing about this client is how organized and thorough it is. I never have to wait long to be seen by my doctor and after my visit with the doctor there is a good structure of then visiting with a nurse for instructions and then billing (if needed). The waiting room and visit rooms are also very nice and clean.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Without insurance: $150 for ultrasound visits, $365 for an IUI procedure
Dr. Shamonki has such a calm demeanor. It can’t help but make you feel somewhat the same way which is hard as a patient dealing with infertility. Every visit he’s always been so considerate and understanding of our situation. He’s also been very thorough in explaining what our next steps will be. He’s always willing to answer any questions. He gave me his cell number, and there were times I had questions so I would text him. He would answer right away!
I would have loved to work with just one nurse, but unfortunately that’s not how it works there [Fertility & Surgical Assoc of CA]. Everyone from the office staff to the nurses have been very friendly and helpful. There was a nurse that I was communicating with through email, but sometimes it would take a day or so to get a response so I’ve learned if it’s something urgent to call the office. They take a message and send it to the nurse and they call you back within the same day. There are 3 different offices, so depending on where your doctor is on that day you might be going to different clinics
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki has such a calm demeanor. It can’t help but make you feel somewhat the same way which is hard as a patient dealing with infertility. Every visit he’s always been so considerate and understanding of our situation. He’s also been very thorough in explaining what our next steps will be. He’s always willing to answer any questions. He gave me his cell number, and there were times I had questions so I would text him. He would answer right away!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Always write down your questions beforehand. It can somewhat be overwhelming when you’re actually there for your appointment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki has always been very understanding and optimistic. He always remembers my husband and I as soon as he sees us. We travel about 2.5 hours to see him, and he’s always considerate of that.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
We had our first initial IUI with Dr. Shamonki. My protocol was Clomid day 3-7. When checking my follicle size on Day 10, doctor noticed my lining was thin so he put me on estrogen for 7 days. I triggered on the evening of Day 10 and had the actual procedure 2 days later. I then was on progesterone suppositories 2 days after up until I took a pregnancy test 14 days after the IUI. Unfortunately it was negative. We’re currently undergoing our 2nd IUI. This time I’m on Letrozole days 5-9. I’ll go back to check follicle size in a few days and hopefully all goes well!!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
You unfortunately don’t work with just one nurse. I’ve never actually had the same nurse twice so far. They’ve all been very pleasant. There’s been a couple of times where my prescription never made
it to my pharmacy but I think that was more on the pharmacy’s end. I’ve had a couple of nurses who have gone above and beyond in regards to medication and just helpful advice. One nurse I’ve gotten and she somewhat seemed unsure of how to order/do things but it ended up working out.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I would have loved to work with just one nurse, but unfortunately that’s not how it works there. Everyone from the office staff to the nurses have been very friendly and helpful. There was a nurse that I was communicating with through email, but sometimes it would take a day or so to get a response so I’ve learned if it’s something urgent to call the office. They take a message and send it to the nurse and they call you back within the same day. There are 3 different offices, so depending on where your doctor is on that day you might be going to different clinics but I’ve had pleasant experiences at all 3.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
My first IUI cost about $850 with medications. My second IUI got canceled due to cysts but I went in for an ultrasound and doctor visit so that alone cost $250. I had to go in for another ultrasound to check on things so that was another $250. We just began my 2nd attempt for an IUI and I’ve paid $250 up until this point for the baseline ultrasound and office visit.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
There was one instance where my medication never got sent to the pharmacy and I had to start the meds that day. So I had to call and leave a message for the on call doctor and he called my prescription in himself. Another instance was where the nurse had me order my trigger shot through a local pharmacy in LA. But then my cycle got cancelled due to cysts so the nurse informed me she would call the pharmacy herself to cancel my trigger shot prescription. Unfortunately, that never happened and they charged me for it anyways. Luckily I caught the prescription before it went out by calling myself. It took almost a week for the refund to go through.
Dr. Shamonki is a great doctor. I would say his weakness is that he doesn't fully explain what to expect sometimes (i.e. out of 18 embryos, only 7 made it to 5-day blastocyst, which surprised me. I felt that he could have told me ahead of time to expect the drop in number), but I think that comes from him being so knowledgeable. Otherwise his strengths are compassion, thoughtful explanation of procedures, measuring expectations, very hands-on (at almost every monitoring appointment).
The nurses [at Fertility and Surgical Associates of CA] were wonderful. Sometimes in the mornings it could be hard to get a hold of one of them on the phone, but if you make it clear that it's urgent, you should be able to speak with someone. They were all very knowledgeable and compassionate... Billing can get a bit hairy, but to be fair, I feel that they are upfront about to expect cost-wise, but there's just so much going on that sometimes things felt like they were coming out of left field. Anytime I felt confused, though, I feel I was able to be heard and made to understand, even if I had to fight a bit for the conversation to happen. It's easy to schedule appointments, and wait times are not usually an issue.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki is a great doctor. I would say his weakness is that he doesn't fully explain what to expect sometimes (i.e. out of 18 embryos, only 7 made it to 5-day blastocyst, which surprised me. I felt that he could have told me ahead of time to expect the drop in number), but I think that comes from him being so knowledgeable. Otherwise his strengths are compassion, thoughtful explanation of procedures, measuring expectations, very hands-on (at almost every monitoring appointment).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Ask lots of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki always makes time to talk with me. He gives out his cell phone number and encourages patients to call him or text him with any questions - and he's serious. I felt bad for a while, but he kept assuring me that it doesn't bother him. When things didn't go our way with our transfers, Dr. Shamonki called us himself to give us the results and was so compassionate. He also always made time for me to come in and talk with him about any questions/steps moving forward. The nurses are also wonderful.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nurses were wonderful. Sometimes in the mornings it could be hard to get a hold of one of them on the phone, but if you make it clear that it's urgent, you should be able to speak with someone. They were all very knowledgeable and compassionate.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Billing can get a bit hairy, but to be fair, I feel that they are upfront about to expect cost-wise, but there's just so much going on that sometimes things felt like they were coming out of left field. Anytime I felt confused, though, I feel I was able to be heard and made to understand, even if I had to fight a bit for the conversation to happen. It's easy to schedule appointments, and wait times are not usually an issue.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Out of pocket with no insurance it cost us $9,500 for egg retrieval and one transfer. $99 for initial genetic bloodwork, $400 for retrieval anesthesia, roughly another $300-400 in lab fees, roughly $3,000 for medications for one egg retrieval and two transfers. It was $4,500 for another embryo transfer, including monitoring.
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
He highly suggested only transferring one embryo at a time to reduce to chance of multiples, as it gives a higher chance of having a normal pregnancy as opposed to high-risk and the complications that can come along with multiples pregnancies.
Dr Shamonki treats every patient he has like a family member. He really does. He always had time for me. Always treated me with the upmost respect. He is laid back and confident at the same time. I always felt I was very well taken care of when I was undergoing treatment with him. My Mini IVF was very smooth.... Out of all the doctors I did cycles with, he was the most professional, competent, trustworthy.
They [Fertility & Surgical Associates of CA] do try to bill your insurance and very helpful. Very nice billing dept. They always responded, I met with them in person many times. They also told me about the compassionate care discount which was very helpful. They also helped me apply for a grant on a deadline which I thought was really nice, even at the last minute. On the weekends, Even if the clinic is open, often you will get the answering service.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I started out on this journey seeing Dr Shamonki. Over the course of 2 years, I saw a few other fertility Doctors. It has been a very challenging journey. I came back to see him as a patient and still in the process. We are aiming to do an embryo transfer in May. Out of all the doctors I did cycles with, he was the most professional, competent, trustworthy. My favorite. I highly recommend him. This is a really tough journey and the doctors I think should be held to a high standard. I work in the medical field. Dr Shamonki exceeds the mark. Every time.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He will listen to your concerns, he will meet you where you are in your treatment and try the hardest for you.
I sometimes wished we had done more bloodwork. I think he felt it was necessary to over do labs.
You are in good hands. Go for it!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki treats every patient he has like a family member. He really does. He always had time for me. Always treated me with the upmost respect. He is laid back and confident at the same time. I always felt I was very well taken care of when I was undergoing treatment with him. My Mini IVF was very smooth. He also treats others in his office very well. I think it is also a good judge of character if the people that work for a doctor think highly of them. The whole office is really good. His father was a fertility Dr and still people think highly of him also. Dr Shamonki was the first Dr I saw when I started this journey, and I ended up coming back under his care. So I have a few other doctors to compare him to. He is truly an exceptional doctor.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I did clomid, Gonal F, Lupron, Menapur. Progesterone, estrogen priming.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Shannen and Laura)
Shannen B and Laura are incredible. So is Michelle. I am very fortunate that they are part of Dr Shamonki's team. They are each very smart, always kind, showed compassion and much patience.
When you go through this journey and nurses are not helpful or kind, it can really be a game changer. It makes SUCH a difference.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
They do try to bill your insurance and very helpful. Very nice billing dept.
They always responded, I met with them in person many times. They also told me about the compassionate care discount which was very helpful.
They also helped me apply for a grant on a deadline which I thought was really nice, even at the last minute.
On the weekends, Even if the clinic is open, often you will get the answering service. This was sometimes frustrating, but you always got a call back from nurse or doctor. Shamonki gives out his cell number so you always have that if a true urgent need.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I work full time, They let me come to the office that was the most convenient for me which was helpful.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I would say they were moderate costs. He was not the most expensive nor was he the least expensive.
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
He [Dr. Mousa Shamonki] first wanted to ensure that my tubes were clear and that there wasn't any issues with my uterine lining due to multiple D&C's and miscarriages. There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary from a protocol perspective but I was more concerned with the prep work involved and he was covered there. I literally felt like I had every test in the book done before I even started my meds.
The staff [at Fertility and Surgical Associates of CA] was always on time and functioned like a machine, getting you from consultation, to blood work etc.. all while being available for questions at any point in time. The follow up phone calls were pretty much to the letter in terms of timing you knew exactly when to expect a call.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He's great I wish he was my primary physician. He's just a normal, kind person that you'd want to get dinner with. He is an amazing communicator he's available anytime you need him. After a tough experience with another doctor he was very conscious of our hesitations.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
You will really love him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is so kind and supportive, but also realistic.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
He first wanted to ensure that my tubes were clear and that there wasn't any issues with my uterine lining due to multiple D&C's and miscarriages. There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary from a protocol perspective but I was more concerned with the prep work involved and he was covered there. I literally felt like I had every test in the book done before I even started my meds.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The staff was always on time and functioned like a machine, getting you from consultation, to blood work etc.. all while being available for questions at any point in time. The follow up phone calls were pretty much to the letter in terms of timing you knew exactly when to expect a call.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
There are multiple locations which is a plus. When I first started I was driving over an hour each way to get there just for blood work. Its pretty busy so be prepared the smaller locations are much more private if you need it. There are multiple entrances and exits for privacy as well.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The costs were fair based on research, not too high or too low
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
He was a huge proponent of only doing a single transfer, for my safety and he was clear that the outcome in terms of percentages were not that different. Pretty much it didn't up your chances that much to do a multiple embryo transfer. He was clear that he would do whatever we wanted, but recommended only one.
...I could tell his [Dr. Mousa Shamonki] demeanor was WAY different in the new clinic [Fertility & Surgical Associates]. Because he was more relaxed so was I. We were able to talk more about our options. I felt that he knew what he was talking about when looking at ultrasounds and everything that I had been through previously. We never came up with a plan because financially we were not able to continue with any treatments out of insurance. However I do follow up with him all the time. He is available to me anytime just by sending a text to his cell phone.
...I could tell his [Dr. Mousa Shamonki] demeanor was WAY different in the new clinic [Fertility & Surgical Associates]. Because he was more relaxed so was I. We were able to talk more about our options. I felt that he knew what he was talking about when looking at ultrasounds and everything that I had been through previously. We never came up with a plan because financially we were not able to continue with any treatments out of insurance. However I do follow up with him all the time. He is available to me anytime just by sending a text to his cell phone.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I very first started seeing Dr. Shamonki when he was at UCLA in Westwood. At UCLA the workspace they provided to him and the amount of patients that he was given to care for was MANY. I felt that he was stressed and rushed to get to the next and the next after that. He didn't seem like that kind of person to treat patients in this kind of environment. When he moved and went to his new clinic it seemed like he was more relaxed and able to care for patients the way he thought they should be treated. I could tell his demeanor was WAY different in the new clinic. Because he was more relaxed so was I. We were able to talk more about our options. I felt that he knew what he was talking about when looking at ultrasounds and everything that I had been through previously. We never came up with a plan because financially we were not able to continue with any treatments out of insurance. However I do follow up with him all the time. He is available to me anytime just by sending a text to his cell phone.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Keep him in the loop
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He has great bedside manner and talks with a calm voice. He is very upfront and honest with me.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I didn't do an IVF cycle with Dr. Shamonki. Although I brought embryos I had frozen from another clinic to him to be transferred but chose to PGS test them before transfer
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I don't even remember any nurses to be fair
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
They are a very busy clinic and their a lot of doctors but they are very efficient and I never had to wait more than 10 or so minutes
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I think the costs at the clinic are relatively inexpensive compared to other clinics that I have went to.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki is always so compassionate and loving. Always treats you like family so heartwarming. He always strives to get the best result posible. Always easy to reach and always very informative about everything. I can’t express enough about how compassionate this doctor is.... All the three times I got treatment from Dr Shamonki I always did the IUI procedures. Because of financial struggles that was all we could ever really afford. I suffer from PCOS so we always did metformin first 500mg 3x day
Clinic [Fert & Surg Asso of CA] is very clean, and all are located in very nice areas. Very comfy. However front desk staff (Sherman Oaks) is not so professional they need to work more on their people skills. (Encino and Santa Monica have great personality’s all around) Their phone lines are a headache being that half the time u get the afterhour phone system and have to wait for a call back. You usually have to keep calling till u get trough. Their back office nurses are good. Very helpful.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki is always so compassionate and loving. Always treats you like family so heartwarming. He always strives to get the best result posible. Always easy to reach and always very informative about everything. I can’t express enough about how compassionate this doctor is.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Always be an open book and honest with this Dr he is very understanding about everything. He does not judge. He helps.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki is always very helpful and kind. Always very considerate of anyone’s situation. Very consoling and easy to reach.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
All the three times I got treatment from Dr Shamonki I always did the IUI procedures. Because of financial struggles that was all we could ever really afford. I suffer from PCOS so we always did metformin first 500mg 3x day . Then I would call him on my first cycle day we would do ultrasound to check my uterine lining. To start my ovulation I was put on Femara (Letrazole) I don’t remember the dose but I was put on this medication cause it’s the one that beat helped me in the whole ovulation process. I was completely resistant to clomid when we first tried it. I did monitoring of my eggs every other day. The one time the IUI worked I actually produced 3 eggs on my left and 2 eggs on my right. I have always only produced two one side and 1 on the other. Out of all those only usually one became a good mature size. After my first ectopic pregnancy after the treatment (NOT during treatment) Dr Shamonki order that we do a Hysterosalpingogram to make sure there was no blockage of tubes , before we did another round of IUI , it was after that procedure that I got pregnant, but it had to be terminated due to viable heart beat or growth found. It was considered a chromosome abnormality. Over all I’ve had a long road with Dr. Shamonki but he has always strived in everything he has tried to do for my husband and I.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Nurses here are your regular nursing staff , just in and out. Very fast paced facility’s.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Clinic is very clean, and all are located in very nice areas. Very comfy. However front desk staff (Sherman Oaks) is not so professional they need to work more on their people skills. (Encino and Santa Monica have great personality’s all around) Their phone lines are a headache being that half the time u get the afterhour phone system and have to wait for a call back. You usually have to keep calling till u get trough. Their back office nurses are good. Very helpful.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Every cycle of IUI cost us roughly about 2,000
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Dr. Shamonki is kind and answers all my questions. Some appointments made me feel a bit rushed and I would have liked him to walk me through the steps and options a little more...He did not seem to want to explore any methods other than IUI or IVF (e.g., diet changes, lifestyle changes), however, he seems like he is great at what he does and appears confident in his skills in those areas.
The [Fertility & Surgical Associates of CA] clinic's strengths include: Ability to make appointments easily, kind and caring staff, clean environment. Weaknesses: I would like more readily available information regarding cost/pricing, ability to make appointments on Saturdays...The nursing staff has been helpful in answering questions and very kind and caring...I was told our IUI cycle should cost approximately 1k.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki is kind and does a great job answering all questions. He does not get too detailed when offering options, which I would have liked. He did not seem to want to explore any methods other than IUI or IVF (e.g., diet changes, lifestyle changes), however, he seems like he is great at what he does and appears confident in his skills in those areas.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I would say come prepared with questions, as he is great at answering questions but does not always provide a ton of information if you do not ask.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki is kind and answers all my questions. Some appointments made me feel a bit rushed and I would have liked him to walk me through the steps and options a little more.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I was diagnosed with unexplained fertility. Because there was nothing specifically "wrong" Dr. Shamonki agreed that starting with something less invasive (IUI) would be good to try. I was not given any rationales for the treatment protocol but we are currently using letrozole, then will use a trigger shot of Ovidrel, then will do IUI. Following IUI I will take progesterone.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nursing staff has been helpful in answering questions and very kind and caring.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The clinic's strengths include: Ability to make appointments easily, kind and caring staff, clean environment. Weaknesses: I would like more readily available information regarding cost/pricing, ability to make appointments on Saturdays.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I was told our IUI cycle should cost approximately 1k.
He [Dr. Shamonki] is always honest about what will be beneficial, and what would be a waste of time. He is also very knowledgeable and experienced, and being that my case is a difficult one, I feel lucky to have him as my Dr. ... He is very soft spoken and gentle. ... He was always available to answer my questions. ... When my cycle failed, he called me himself with the news and took the time to answer my questions, and explain everything.
The only thing i did not like about this clinic [Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] was the back office waiting area. You can sometimes hear the nurses discussing other patients treatments and that is very uncomfortable to hear while waiting. ... You see the same dr consistently. ... The nursing staff is so nice always. And they work so well together. Everyone there always seems happy and like they love what they do.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I love going to Dr shamonki. He is very soft spoken and gentle. He was always completely honest with me about what treatments were best. And what would and would not work. He is always compassionate. When my cycle failed, he called me himself with the news and took the time to answer my questions, and explain everything. He is always honest about what will be beneficial, and what would be a waste of time. He is also very knowledgeable and experienced, and being that my case is a difficult one, I feel lucky to have him as my Dr.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Listen to his suggestions, and trust that he has your best interest.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr shamonki treats his patients like family. He was honest with me about my possible outcomes. He was always available to answer my questions. He did not push unnecessary tests and procedures. He was always transparent about what was necessary, and things that would not work.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
2 embryo transfer cycles using estrogen and progesterone before transfers.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nursing staff is so nice always. And they work so well together. Everyone there always seems happy and like they love what they do.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
You see the same dr consistently. Every once in a while when my dr was on vacation, a different dr and he was very knowledgeable also. The only thing i did not like about this clinic was the back office waiting area. You can sometimes hear the nurses discussing other patients treatments and that is very uncomfortable to hear while waiting.
He [Dr. Shamonki] is a very knowledgeable doctor who is friendly and very professional. ... He answers on a timely manner. ... He takes time to explain our situation, chances and suggests a good plan. He is not overly pessimistic when facing hard cases. He makes time from his schedule to answer messages and phone calls, and sets up phone calls as soon as possible to answer questions.
Great clinic with many locations. It was easy to find one clinic open even on weekends and get appointments for monitoring even last minute, which was very helpful. A bit too expensive for us for bigger procedures like ivf. ... A nurse one time made a mistake in writing my follicle count down during ultrasound visit. (Monitoring) She wrote down one less follicle but I caught it on time when it was communicated to other staff.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is a very knowledgeable doctor who is friendly and very professional. He takes time to explain our situation, chances and suggests a good plan. He is not overly pessimistic when facing hard cases. He makes time from his schedule to answer messages and phone calls, and sets up phone calls as soon as possible to answer questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Ask as many questions as possible along the way.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is very kind and patient doctor. It’s easy to reach him to ask any important questions. He answers on a timely manner. He takes the time to explain the details and possibilities with a caring manner.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Iui with Letrazole prep. Two dominant follicles before iui but no positive result unfortunately.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Sometimes they didn’t call us back for appointments in the beginning. Had a hard time finding our records at times.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Great clinic with many locations. It was easy to find one clinic open even on weekends and get appointments for monitoring even last minute, which was very helpful. A bit too expensive for us for bigger procedures like ivf.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
iui
ultrasound visits $175-260/visit depending on own patient or monitoring
surgery cost for polip removal surgery
What specific things went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
A nurse one time made a mistake in writing my follicle count down during ultrasound visit. (Monitoring) She wrote down one less follicle but I caught it on time when it was communicated to other staff.
I cannot sign Dr. Shamonk's praises enough. Not only did he take the time to really understand what was going on with me, he had ideas that my other doctor did not. He said that I probably never even needed to go through IVF and he felt strongly I could get pregnant with just the help of some injections & he was right!!
The Santa Monica office is small & convenient but it is part of the larger Fertility & Surgical Associates family- so you really have the personalized feeling within a bigger clinic and lab... I had very little interaction with the nursing staff, so I can't really rate them. The few interactions I had were positive.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
I cannot sign Dr. Shamonk's praises enough. Not only did he take the time to really understand what was going on with me, he had ideas that my other doctor did not. He said that I probably never even needed to go through IVF and he felt strongly I could get pregnant with just the help of some injections & he was right!! He is by far the best doctor I have ever experienced & I will measure all future doctors against him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Go!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki is so personable. From our first meeting he spent over an hour sitting and talking with me and understanding the treatments I had already gone through and their outcome. He developed a customized plan and explained everything to me. This was such a different approach than I had experienced before. From the beginning he gave me his cell phone number and email address and said he is reachable at any time. He also texted me to check in after I was pregnant and no longer actively his patient. It was so kind!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I had very little interaction with the nursing staff, so I can't really rate them. The few interactions I had were positive.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The Santa Monica office is small & convenient but it is part of the larger Fertility & Surgical Associates family- so you really have the personalized feeling within a bigger clinic and lab.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Dr Shamonki has a very calm demeanor he always made me feel at peace. He has the best bedside manner from any doctor I've ever been to. He would personally call me if I had any questions and never felt rushed. ... 3 IUIS with Letrazole and Pregnyl, no pregnancies. Moving on to IVF. ... Although because he works out of a different location most of my visits would involve other doctors in the office [Fertility & Surgical Associates of California].
This clinic [Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] is organized, they made everything easy by always providing you with detailed instructions and calendars. ... The nurse staff was not very warm. Endless revolving door of nurses, never saw the same face. ... The waiting area may be very crowded at times, so expect a wait. However, overall everyone worked efficiently it seemed like they were on top of everything. All doctors were great! Very caring professionals.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki has a very calm demeanor he always made me feel at peace. He has the best bedside manner from any doctor I've ever been to. He would personally call me if I had any questions and never felt rushed. Although because he works out of a different location most of my visits would involve
other doctors in the office. Overall my experience with Dr Shamonki was great!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
From all our visits never had the same nurse, most assistants were not very warm either. Most of the time I would have a long wait time.
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
3 IUIS with Letrazole and Pregnyl, no pregnancies. Moving on to IVF.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The nurse staff was not very warm. Endless revolving door of nurses, never saw the same face. Not very personal since every time you went in you saw a new face, However, they seemed to be organized for the most part.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
This clinic is organized, they made everything easy by always providing you with detailed instructions and calendars. It is a VERY busy facility. The waiting area may be very crowded at times, so expect a wait. However, overall everyone worked efficiently it seemed like they were on top of everything. All doctors were great! Very caring professionals.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
about $900 per IUI
What specific things went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Prescriptions were not faxed to the pharmacy a couple of times.
Shamonki was very kind. He looked into our case with great detail and outlined a course of treatment for us. He took his time in explaining everything. He told us to contact him via cell phone with any further questions or concerns. I saw him at every visit... Shamonki has a wonderful bed side manner. He is a great communicator. He was easy to get in touch with. He would respond to my text messages within 5 minutes.
The clinic [Fertility & Surgical Associates of CA] has three locations. The staff tries to accommodate you and schedule your appointment at your preferred location. This was very helpful. The nursing staff calls me back right away to address any question or concerns that I have.... Michelle always returned my calls promptly and answered all of my questions thoroughly.... Shamonki has a wonderful bed side manner. He is a great communicator. He was easy to get in touch with. He would respond to my text messages within 5 minutes.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Shamonki was very kind. He looked into our case with great detail and outlined a course of treatment for us. He took his time in explaining everything. He told us to contact him via cell phone with any further questions or concerns. I saw him at every visit
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Shamonki has a wonderful bed side manner. He is a great communicator. He was easy to get in touch with. He would respond to my text messages within 5 minutes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Shamonki took his time meeting with us and weighing our options for treatment. He let us ask all of our questions. We did not feel rushed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Michelle E)
Michelle always returned my calls promptly and answered all of my questions thoroughly.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
The clinic has three locations. The staff tries to accommodate you and schedule your appointment at your preferred location. This was very helpful. The nursing staff calls me back right away to address any question or concerns that I have.
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Dr. Shamonki recommended single embryo transfer for me.
He [Dr. Mousa Shamonki] is incredible. I feel very lucky that he is my doctor. I'm not pregnant yet, my first transfer happened today but I feel safe and know I'm in good hands. He calls, texts or face timed me if I have questions or concerns. He even left the country two days after my egg retrieval and still texted me almost daily from China to check in on me because I had OHSS...He is very conservative and because I have so many eggs was very cautious in his approach and dosages.
He [Dr. Mousa Shamonki] is incredible. I feel very lucky that he is my doctor. I'm not pregnant yet, my first transfer happened today but I feel safe and know I'm in good hands. He calls, texts or face timed me if I have questions or concerns. He even left the country two days after my egg retrieval and still texted me almost daily from China to check in on me because I had OHSS...He is very conservative and because I have so many eggs was very cautious in his approach and dosages.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is incredible. I feel very lucky that he is my doctor. I'm not pregnant yet, my first transfer happened today but I feel safe and know I'm in good hands. He calls, texts or face timed me if I have questions or concerns. He even left the country two days after my egg retrieval and still texted me almost daily from China to check in on me because I had OHSS
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Set realistic expectations and don't let time mess with your head. Each week you're not pregnant is so hard but try not to stress
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He is amazing. I can call or text him 24/7 and he is very comforting
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
He is very conservative and because I have so many eggs was very cautious in his approach and dosages.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
A couple are great, a few are not that great
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
$15,000
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
He will only transfer one embryo
What specific things went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Not really. Overall everything has been very good. A couple nurses have had wrong information and caused pharmacy issues.
Dr. Shamonki cares passionately about giving his patients the best possible chances for a good result...handled everything with great sensitivity and understanding...was very caring and sensitive throughout the entire process...such a breath of fresh air once we continued our fertility journey with Dr. Shamonki
a member of the front-office team [at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California], LaKeisha. LaKeisha was so kind to us, so supportive. During the tough moments, the moments of anxiousness, she was always there with exactly the right words of support to help us keep going
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
First I would like to say that we were referred to Dr. Shamonki by a friend who had a very positive experience (read: a baby!). After having a rather frustrating time at another practice, it was such a breath of fresh air once we continued our fertility journey with Dr. Shamonki and the team. At every step along the way, we felt that we were in good hands. It is clear that Dr. Shamonki cares passionately about giving his patients the best possible chances for a good result. Through every up and down, Dr. Shamonki and his team handled everything with great sensitivity and understanding. We just cannot say enough good things about him. He is a blessing, and we have a baby on the way!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shamonki's approach was very caring and sensitive throughout the entire process.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
I wanted to also specifically mention a member of the front-office team, LaKeisha. LaKeisha was so kind to us, so supportive. During the tough moments, the moments of anxiousness, she was always there with exactly the right words of support to help us keep going. We highly recommend Dr. Shamonki and the entire practice at Fertility & Surgical Associates Of California.
We’ve been trying for 5 years to get pregnant...we switched to Dr. Shamonki. He knew right away what could be causing the issue just by looking at my records. His bedside manner is amazing. I felt comfortable with him every time and I could tell he really cared about us and our situation. I got an instant good feeling once he became our Doctor. Wish I switched to him earlier but I’m so happy we did. We are now pregnant 11 weeks
Great staff [at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] and works well with your schedule. Everyone is very friendly and there to help you. Once in a while they can run behind but I think that’s at any Doctor’s office. Front staff is wonderful. Back staff is just as wonderful...Gail [a nurse] is a saint!!! Couldn’t have gotten to where we are without her. She responded to every email and question I had throughout the whole process. She made this journey a lot easier for us.
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
We’ve been trying for 5 years to get pregnant. After seeing another Doctor with no luck, we switched to Dr.Shamonki. He knew right away what could be causing the issue just by looking at my records. His bedside manner is amazing. I felt comfortable with him every time and I could tell he really cared about us and our situation. I got an instant good feeling once he became our Doctor. Wish I switched to him earlier but I’m so happy we did. We are now pregnant 11 weeks thanks to Dr. Shamonki.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Don’t go to anyone else, go straight to Dr.Shamonki
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Gail)
Gail is a saint!!! Couldn’t have gotten to where we are without her. She responded to every email and question I had throughout the whole process. She made this journey a lot easier for us.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Great staff and works well with your schedule. Everyone is very friendly and there to help you. Once in a while they can run behind but I think that’s at any Doctor’s office. Front staff is wonderful. Back staff is just as wonderful.
Dr Shamonki is warm, compassionate, and really cares about his patients. Not once did I feel judged for being a same-sex couple and we always felt at ease when we met with him...modified natural cycle...did not attempt multiple embryo transfer because my embryos were tested and were high-quality
[Fertility & Surgical Associates of California] Treating patients like people, compassionate, knowledgeable, and empathetic doctors and staff. Only thing I would say is that there tended to be long wait times at times...Always willing to answer my questions, very responsive to my email inquiries. Always called me back when they said they would
How was your experience with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr Shamonki is warm, compassionate, and really cares about his patients. Not once did I feel judged for being a same-sex couple and we always felt at ease when we met with him. I would go back to him in a heartbeat if we decide that we want more children.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
Be open to many different tests/treatment courses to achieve results. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic)?
He was always empathetic when we would have a failed cycle. Always tried to change things up to hopefully achieve success. Warm personality, wonderful bedside manner
Describe the protocols Mousa Shamonki used in your cycles at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Our last cycle (successful) was a modified natural cycle. I don’t quite recall the exact purpose of this type of cycle but I’m glad we tried it because I feel it was exactly what my body needed
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Always willing to answer my questions, very responsive to my email inquiries. Always called me back when they said they would.
Describe your experience with Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
Treating patients like people, compassionate, knowledgeable, and empathetic doctors and staff.
Only thing I would say is that there tended to be long wait times at times. Didn’t really matter much to me except the time I was told to have a full bladder for my transfer and then it took them a long time to come do the procedure. My bladder was so full it was becoming painful. But I know there’s a good reason for the wait and they did apologize several times and let me pee as soon as the procedure was over.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mousa Shamonki at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
We had to pay out of pocket for all IUIs, our egg retrieval, and one transfer. Of course vials of sperm were out of pocket expenses as well.
I eventually got coverage through Progyny which helped tremendously
Describe Mousa Shamonki's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (First Fertility Network clinic).
We did not attempt multiple embryo transfer because my embryos were tested and were high-quality.