Going to the United States to do IVF is both easy and heavy. Easy, because now the technology is really rapidly changing, three generations of IVF technology has helped countless families to fulfill the dream of "having a baby". Heavy because when it comes to choosing hospitals, doctors and budgets, everyone's mind is buzzing and they don't know which clinic is the best one to choose.

Especially in California, there are as many IVF clinics as there are coffee shops, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, San Diego, Orange County, there are advertisements flashing "high success rates" and "celebrity doctors" everywhere. But you have to ask, "Which one is the best one to go to?" After reading this article, you may get the answer you are looking for.

In this article you will seeCharacteristics of each hospital, doctor's background, success rate, official website, service details, and some of the blogger's personal intuition.

If you're on the IVF path, or just trying to get a feel for it, then this article, perhaps, will give you a little less to go on and a little more courage.

Overall Overview of California IVF Clinics

Let's give you a general overview first:

• California has the most fertility clinics in the country, particularly concentrated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Orange County.
• Many of these clinics are ranked throughout the United States and even the world, with clients all over the globe.
• These clinics have received more favorable reviews when it comes to client appointments.

Below, we'll talk about it line by line.

1. HRC Fertility (HRC) Orange County

• Address: 500 Superior Ave, Suite 210, Newport Beach, CA 92663
• Official website:hrcsurrogacy.com
• Success Rate: No. 1 on the U.S. West Coast in cycle count, with a success rate higher than the industry average

HRC is a well-known name in the California IVF community. With locations in Encino, Newport Beach, and Pasadena, they have a team of doctors: a group of Reproductive Endocrinologists and Fertility Specialists, many of whom are considered to be "gods" in the industry.

HRC offers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• ovulation induction
• artificial insemination
• ovum freezing
• frozen embryo transfer (FET)
• In vitro fertilization (IVF)
• egg donation
• Surrogacy in the United States
• ICSI
• PGS/PGD etc.

Technological tools are among the most advanced in the industry. In other words, any assisted reproduction program you want, they can basically do it and do it beautifully.

Sure, the price isn't cheap. But many families feel that HRC is worth the price, especially those who want to punch above their weight in terms of success.

2. Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine (SCCRM)

• Address: 361 Hospital Road, Suite 333, Newport Beach, CA 92663
• Official website:socalfertility.com/zh
• Success rate: 60%-70%, especially the IVF success rate of patients over 40 years old is always in the top 10 in the United States.

SCCRM's biggest claim to fame is that it is a "boon to elderly patients". Dr. Robert Anderson and Dr. Don Royster, who have extensive experience in blastocyst culture and preimplantation genetic testing (PGS/PGT), have pioneered many of the industry's innovations.

The team is very detail-oriented, for example:

• Blastocyst culture technology
• Pre-implantation genetic testing
• Personalized Embryo Culture Program
• Highly empathetic team of nurses
• Financial experts help you plan your budget throughout the process

The SCCRM is particularly respected "one embryo, one fetus (idiom); fig. a group of people with one embryo, one child" concept of transferring one embryo at a time to minimize the risk of multiple births while maintaining a high success rate.

Not only is this home technically awesome, but it's also very much about emotional support. Many patients say that it's not just about the treatment here, it's about having someone who really understands you and comforts you.

3. Southern California Reproductive Center (SCRC)

• Address: 450 N. Roxbury Dr., 5th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
• Official website:scrcivf.com/zh
• Success rate: around 60%-70%

If you look at the history of the fertility industry, the SCRC is textbook, and Dr. Mark Surrey was the first person to ever be a part of it. Part of the team that developed the world's first in vitro fertilization (Louise Brown) in 1978.. Decades down the road, the skills and experience are thick as hell.

SCRC's scope of services includes:

• ovulation induction
• Artificial insemination (IUI)
• frozen embryo transfer (FET)
• PGS/PGD
• ICSI
• IVF

SCRC has a very high number of success stories, especially for patients over 40. Although the price is high, many people are willing to pay for the experience, especially those with multiple failures.

4. AmCan Fertility - Preferred by the Chinese community

• Official website:mrsurrogacy.com

AmCan is a name that is particularly well known to the Chinese in California IVF circles. The story behind them is that they were founded by the AmCan Group with investment in Irvine, Southern California, the Tech Coast of the United States.

AmCan highlights include:

• Experienced in the field of triple IVF in the United States
• Provision of donor sperm and eggs
• Can operate embryos from other countries for transportation to the United States
• Largest Surrogacy Center in California
• Providing a full range of third-party assisted reproductive surrogacy services, including surrogate mother matching, surrogacy insurance, surrogacy law, client relationship management, emotional and psychological support, etc.

AmCan's Dr. Wood is a dual specialist in reproductive endocrinology and genetics with more than 30 years of clinical experience and has been inducted into three marquis-level publications: Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, and Who's Who in Science and Technology.

For many Chinese clients, AmCan is not only a reliable medical technology, but also a seamless cultural and linguistic integration.

5. Pacific Fertility Center (PFC)

• Address: 55 Francisco Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94133
• Official website:pacificfertilitycenter.com

PFC is very well known in San Francisco and also has a presence in Los Angeles. The biggest feature here:

• Is the first full-service in-house genetic laboratory in Southern California
• Particularly technologically advanced
• In PGD/PGS, ICSI,Strong in frozen embryo transfer

PFC has a total of 4 clinics conveniently located in the Los Angeles and California metropolitan areas. For many Northern California patients, this is one of the preferred clinics.

One thing to keep in mind, though: fertility treatments in and around San Francisco are generally a bit more expensive than in Southern California.

6. CHA Fertility Center

• Address: 5455 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1904, Los Angeles, CA 90036
• Official website:tlcfertility.com

The CHA Fertility Center has a particularly impressive history, having established the world's first egg freezing center. This is definitely an important channel for women who "don't want to have a baby at the moment, but want to save a way out".

The doctors at the clinic are great, for example:

• Dr. Jovanovic: Completed graduate training at Duke University and Columbia University with dual US-European accreditation
• Dr. S. Samuel Kim: Pioneer in the field of reproductive medicine and surgery, especially in the field of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation

CHA's services include:

• ovulation induction
• artificial insemination
• frozen embryo transfer (FET)
• ICSI
• PGS
• IVF
• Comprehensive VIP Care

CHA is definitely worth checking out if you want to be taken care of throughout the entire process and have a customized service.

7. Fertility and Surgery Association of California (FSAC)

• Address: 325 Rolling Oaks Drive, Suite 110, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
• Official website:https://www.fertilityassociates.com/

FSAC's Dr. Buyalos is a typical "academic":

• More than 20 years of experience in the field of Ovulation Promotion and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
• Over 100 papers, abstracts and book chapters published
• Active member of various medical associations
• Awarded "Best Doctors in America" and many others.

FSAC's philosophy is:

Combining state-of-the-art fertility techniques with personalized, compassionate care, we strive to achieve the highest success rates.

Clinic offers:

• in vitro fertilization
• artificial insemination
• egg donation
• surrogacy

There are offices in Thousand Oaks, Encino, and Santa Monica. Prices may be slightly friendlier relative to downtown LA.

8. San Francisco Bay Area Reproductive Science Center (RSC)

• Address: 100 Park Pl, Suite 200, San Ramon, CA 94583
• Official website:rscbayarea.com

RSC has an illustrious history:

• First IVF pregnancy in the East Bay, 1984.
• In 1985, the first test-tube baby, Elizabeth Castro Wilson, was born.
• In 1986, Travis McCullar, the second frozen embryo IVF baby in the United States, was born.
• Over 12,000 babies born to date

RSC offers:

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• corrective surgery
• general medicine
• Fertility preservation
• surrogacy

It is also known for its outstanding success rate and egg donation program, which attracts patients from all over the world.

Advantages of IVF in the United States

When it comes to IVF in the United States, many people only think of "high technology". But in fact, the advantage is not only technology:

1. Gender screening is legal
   It is not allowed in China, Australia, Canada, or Italy, but in some states in the United States, it is legal to do gender screening. This is especially important for people who have a family history of genetic disorders.
2. Freedom of choice in surrogacy
   In some U.S. states, theSurrogacy is legal.. If you are not physically fit to conceive, or if you are old enough to want another child, you can do so through surrogacy.
3. Popularization of the third generation of test tubes
   Many clinics in the U.S. will do PGS/PGT (chromosome screening) prior to embryo transfer to reduce the risk of genetic disorders. This is not always allowed to be done in this country.
4. Private clinic system
   Doctors care about their success rate and the service is extra detailed as a result. The patient experience is often very good.

IVF Success Rates in California

In California, there is a wide disparity in IVF success rates for women under 35 years of age, typically ranging from 1.5 percent per cycle to 1.5 percent per cycle. 24.2% ~ 65% Between, it depends:

• • Hospital level
  • Patient's age
  • Male Infertility Factors
  • medication regimen
  • embryo quality

• Patient's physical condition

Therefore, it is important that you talk to your fertility doctor in depth to understand your specific success rate.

Cost of IVF in California

If you're considering in vitro fertilization (IVF), I'm willing to bet that the first thing that pops into your mind isn't just "will it work?". The more realistic and heartfelt question is:"How much will it cost?"

It is an accepted fact that IVF in California is expensive.

But don't worry, we'll talk slowly.

What is the approximate cost of IVF in California?

Let's start with the conclusion: in California, an IVF session, for one cycle, is approximately US$ 12,000 to US$ 30,000 It's all possible. Isn't that a big span? Yes, it's that floaty.

Why is the gap so wide? It's simple:

• Which clinic did you choose? (Clinics charge much different fees depending on the location)
• Who's the doctor? (A big name doctor must charge more.)
• Do you need additional treatments? Like genetic testing, embryo screening, etc.
• Are you physically complex?

For example, if you don't count the cost of medication, the medical procedure itself for an IVF cycle can cost about $10,000 per cycle. US$ 8,000 to US$ 14,000 Between. Slightly more expensive than the national average, since California is a high-spending state after all. The national average is about US$ 11,000 to US$ 12,000The

In fact, in California, once the total price of a cycle (including medications and surgeries) is more than $19,000, many people will start asking around to see if they can apply for loans, insurance, or even see if there are any discount programs. Don't be ashamed, this is really very common in California.

What determines how much you spend?

To put it bluntly, the factors that affect the cost boil down to a few key words:

Location, doctors, difficulty of treatment.

First, there's clinic location. Imagine how expensive the rent is for those high-rise clinics in downtown Los Angeles. Compare that to the scenic towns of Napa Valley, can the operating costs be the same? So, if you do it in Los Angeles, and if you do it in Napa Valley, the difference in charges for the same treatment could be thousands of dollars.

Then there is the doctor. A specialist with a burgeoning reputation and experience in the field will, of course, charge more. But many people are still willing to bite the bullet and choose because after all, it's about being able to hold a baby.

There's also a very real problem: everyone's health is different. The more complex the case, the more tests, medications, and even additional surgeries are required. All of this makes the bill "jump up and up".

What does IVF cost exactly?

Many people think that in vitro fertilization is a "one-time procedure", but it is not. Almost every part of the process costs money. Let's talk about it one by one:

① Ultrasound & Blood Test

IVF is not a "quick fix". Before the embryos are actually transferred, you'll have to make frequent trips to the clinic for monitoring. The doctor wants to see how your follicles are growing and what your hormone levels are - all of which can't be done without ultrasounds and blood draws.

• echographyAbout one time. $150-$500
• Blood tests related to fertility: One time. $200-$400

The price difference can be huge from clinic to clinic and city to city. It's all a small expense, but it can add up to a lot.

② Egg retrieval surgery & Laboratory fees

By the day of egg retrieval, it's basically the culminating moment of the whole journey. The doctor will use a needle to suck out the mature eggs under ultrasound guidance - don't worry, no incisions or stitches are required.

This component is included in the so-called "IVF Basic Fee", but ranges widely from $7,000 to $22,000 Not equal. The reason for such a big difference is usually whether or not you want to follow up with additional services such as PGT genetic screening, frozen embryos, etc.

The laboratory component, too, accounts for a significant portion of the expenditures. For example:

• Use of Embryo Culture Solution
• Cost of semen analysis
• Additional techniques for embryo cultivation to the blastocyst stage

Don't underestimate these lab operations, they have a huge impact on the quality of the embryo.

③ Embryo freezing & transplantation

Next, there is the question of whether or not to freeze the embryos. Not everyone does a fresh embryo transfer right away, and some people choose to freeze them first because of medical conditions or strategic considerations.

• Initial freezing costs:: Approximate US$ 1,000 - 2,000
• Annual storage fees:: Approximate $500-$1,000

If you plan to have a second child in the future, or are unsure of which transplant is best, these storage fees are a "fixed expense" that won't go away.

As for the transplant itself:

• Embryo transfer basic costs
• If frozen embryos are used, you have to add thawing fees, transfer monitoring fees, etc.

In California, the total cost of a frozen embryo transfer falls about $9,000 around. This usually already includes the cost of storage from the time the process is coordinated to within a year.

How can I save money on IVF treatment?

With IVF and tens of thousands of dollars at stake, many families are under a lot of pressure. But then again, there are always more ways than there are difficulties.Saving money is never out of the question, either.

①Choose a packaged meal for a better price.

Many people don't realize that many fertility clinics offer "multi-cycle discount packages". What does that mean? It means that if you prepay for several IVF treatments at once, the clinic is willing to give you a discount.

I know a friend who failed her first IVF and her whole mood hit rock bottom. Luckily, she got the three-cycle package in the first place, and the overall average was a few thousand dollars cheaper per cycle, so at least the financial stress wasn't as explosive. While it's best to succeed in one go, the reality is that many people need more than one try. If you plan on sticking with it until you succeed, this package option is really something to consider.

② Good use of in vitro fertilization grants

When it comes to grants, the first reaction of many people is, "Ah, isn't that something rich people can't apply for?" Actually, that's not necessarily true. Many non-profit organizations do determine who gets grants based on household income, but it's not just low-income people who can apply. There are some grant programs that look more at whether or not the family is under financial stress, and whether or not you live in a specific area.

As an example, there are organizations that open application windows every year and offer grants ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Some people rely on these funds to go through the entire IVF process.Don't feel like you don't have a chance, don't apply, it's always zero.

③Try a clinical trial

Many people get nervous when they hear "clinical trial": "Is that a mouse?" In fact, clinical trials for IVF are not exactly the same as drug trials. Many trials involve new embryo cultures or different medication regimens, which do not necessarily mean high risk.

Some clinics will post clinical trial recruitment information on their official website or social media.The great thing is: it's free, or almost free.You'll have to spend a little more time researching trial requirements, but if you qualify, you can really save a ton of money.

④Use the two trump cards of HSA and FSA well

Let's talk a little more about financial maneuvering. Many people overlook one big asset: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

Simply put, it means that you take a portion of your paycheck, put it into these accounts first, and then use it to pay for medical expenses - and that money is tax-free! In other words, it's the same as if you're paying for it with your pre-tax income, and you're probably actually saving a lot more money than you think.

For example: if you're going to spend $20,000 on IVF and you're in roughly a 30% tax bracket, that's a tax savings of maybe six grand. Isn't that a super deal?

⑤ Fertility drugs can also be compared to save money.

Don't think that all the money for IVF treatment is spent at the clinic. In fact, fertility drugs are a big part of it.

The good news is that many pharmacies or drug companies offer discount programs.Some can even help you find medications that are half the market price. The price difference between different pharmacies for the same drug can be frighteningly large. So don't be afraid to make a few phone calls and compare quotes, you may be able to save hundreds to thousands of dollars.

put at the end

As I write this, I have mixed feelings in my heart: doing IVF is not just a technical choice, it is also a test of emotions, money, time, and even marital relationship. Every clinic has its own strengths and weaknesses, and there is no absolute "best".

If you're already on this path, I just want to say: don't just look at the ads, and don't just listen to what people say. Consulting, comparing, and asking your doctor is the only way to truly hold yourself accountable.

Whether you've traveled down this road or are on the fence, the Surrogate's House blog truly wishes you the best of luck in holding your own little one someday.