PAMF Fertility Physicians of Northern California

Greedy Money grubbing business operation. Nickel and Dime patients to death. After paying $ 10+k for IVF, they still slip in more charges in your bill. When I scrutinized my final invoice after the treatment is over, I saw some shady «weekend consultation surcharge» which was just for a short phone call from Dr. Adamson about the hormone blood test result and follicles growth to discuss the right time to trigger and retrieve eggs. He was very impatient during that phone call, and because it happened on a Saturday, he added this surcharge to my bill. IVF ovary stimulation need to be monitored 7 days a week, ovaries don’t take weekend off. His accountant had more conscience than him and she removed this charge. They also want to send you to their lab for unnecessary tests and charge you more than outside labs. I fought with them for months for my bills and eventually got my money back. Their success stats is pathetic and are doing fewer and fewer IVF cycles each year, go figure! I got pregnant on my own after so many years of heartbreaks and finally miracle happened, I have a beautiful baby to hold now!

I wanted to like FPNC, my sister referred me and she had a great experience and success. I however have not.
Initially I was pleased at how up front my Dr was with costs, treatments, and even took steps at really finding out what could be going on in there. however the follow through was ridiculous. Within the first week I had taken a bunch of blood tests and labs, later I was prescribed Clomid for a couple of rounds.
6 months later, I cannot make my appointment with reception and I have to speak to a coordinator, they are just now getting around to looking at my lab results (these blood tests were ready with in a week) Now, they discover I have had other health issues all along… This should have been addressed right away.
When I asked Dr Kim about it, however nice he was, mitigated the fact that he still hadn’t looked at my results himself, he did not even bring my records in to the visit. He had to excuse himself to look at the results to continue our conversation.
I thought they were a team of specialists, I sure do not feel that is accurate from the doctors to the receptionist team that rather argue with you than listen to your question.

Patient for 1.5 years here. They were very open about costs and success rates. When we were unsuccessful Dr. Kim changed a few things and then we had great results with second round Ivf. Front desk was always professional and nice. Lab is quick and results always called by coordinator same day. The employees in the surgery center were very upbeat and supportive. The clinic is busy but I was able to get in within next month when ready for fertility treatments. Best part is I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for my appts with the dr. In the waiting room. Overall I was happy with them and we are expecting a baby boy from 2^nd round ivf.

I give them one star because I have two wonderful kids because of IVF.
But, I could have sued for malpractice during the process. They started me on IVF KNOWING we had a sperm motility factor and didn’t take care of that. So, we get ¾ of the way through ovary stimulation and then they say, «oops, we forgot you don’t have sperm». We had to stop IVF and regroup. It was a HUGE blunder on FPNC’s part. Being kind people, we forgave FPNC for their mistake, cut our financial and emotional losses, and spent the next 8 months invested in correcting our male infertility issue. Essentially, back to the drawing board.
Fast forward three years and two kids. We no longer needed to pay our annual storage fees because we were done building our family. During the merge with FPNC and PAMF, they lost my paperwork to request termination TWICE and are now holding me liable for not paying my fees for that lapsed time, that I assumed was a done deal because I called and spoke with someone who said, «no problem we will stop your storage, just fill out the paperwork (they mailed it to me after me calling twice to request the paperwork)». They are now holding me financially liable for not paying my storage fees. And for THREE years I have been battling with their billing department to resolve this issue, which always led to a «let me speak with my manager and call you right back». They never called back. Then about three months later they would call back with no recollection of the previous conversations I had with their department and I would start the entire conversation over. Unfortunately I didn’t keep record of our phone conversations or the electronic submissions left on their website requesting termination so I have no «proof» according to them. So they sent me to collections!?! And now I get to deal with that.
I have found FPNC to be incredibly unprofessional. From the initial meeting it was all about the money. I could see it in the way they presented our options — straight to IVF ($$$). They were not very compassionate when they screwed up our lives for almost a full year — anyone on this journey knows how emotionally tolling it can be and then to find out mid-​way they have to stop the IVF cycle and be sent to TWO male infertility specialists for more testing, more invasiveness… to figure out what we need to do (more $$$, more emotions, more stress…)
I love my kids and am forever grateful I have them but would never recommend FPNC.
Bela G.‘s review is SPOT ON. I agree wholeheartedly with what you wrote!

We generally had a good, and successful, experience with Dr. Kim, who was our primary (4 rounds of IUI). They did seem a bit disorganized, especially at first. Directions were often inconsistent and/​or incomplete, which caused delays in having a procedure done, and a hissy fit by a phone staff when scheduling my 4^th IUI round. When procedures weren’t followed, the staff, esp the operators, could get pretty rude and abrasive. Fortunantly the Dr. took this seriously and seemed really bothered by this.
No one talked to us about alternative ways to increase our success rates, such as acupuncture (I did it anyways, which I think contributed to our success).
We generally liked Dr. Kim, but I think if we return I’ll try Dr. Dobson (he did IUI round 3), even though he doesn’t seem to buy into acupuncture or other alternative strategies. He was the only doctor who discussed about potential, tangible reasons why we weren’t successful, took some time to problem-​solve, and didn’t blow off our first failed attempts as unexplainable. We never felt pressured into IVF, and Dr. Kim supported our decision to try a 4^th IUI round, despite his initial recommendation for only 3 (due to various factors).
For those complaining about cost, yes, infertility treatment is expensive, and insurance doesn’t cover much of it. Just like anywhere else, you’ll get calls if you don’t pay your bill. However if you pay your bill on time, you may be eligible for a 30% discount for procedures not covered by insurance, but you have to ask.

I do not generally write Unilocal reviews but this was a must. so other folks already emotionally stressed out due to fertlity problems do not get harassed by this clinic when there are other better options available right next door.
Money Grabbing business. Outdated equipment, Billing staff that will harass you and the prices are way higher than other much more successful clinics. Go to Nova in Mountain View. Dr Schmidt and his staff there is stellar with 60% plus success rate. Run away from here… Please note my review is for this facility and their administration, not necessarily for the doctors.

As other reviewers mentioned, the doctor’s here push you to go to IVF, want to make money while not really taking care of patients on IUI. The nurse told me that she sees more patients on IVF than IUI, at some point the co-​coordinator boasts of having 15 – 20 folks start on IVF every week. The doctors will meet you without looking at your chart. Totally bad service, don’t go there. Different rates between insurance and self, huge difference in rates. The doctor too tries to push you to IVF.

What a load of bs they said I can’t donate because I only have 9 follicles and their minimum is 12 really stupid don’t come here a major waste of time

Money grabbing business. Success rate is not high, just look up the statistics. In my case the made three sloppy mistakes; the last one, confirmed by the ucsf reproductive clinic, cost me the only chance I ever had of being pregnant. Could not walk out because I had tied myself with one of their financial packages. This said, Dr Adamsom can handle endometriosis and he helped me when other doctors in the Bay Area wanted to shoot me up with hormones instead of performing a complex surgery.

These guys are great. My husband and I have a lovely little girl to prove it!
The initial physician we saw took wonderful care to make sure all our questions were addressed, meeting with us more than once and consulting with another physician to design a safe process tailored to me (due to a medical condition I have).
The finance department was very informative about costs, giving a reasonable range when an exact cost wasn’t known. Looking back, we felt very well informed about costs.
Their doctors and nurses are wonderful, too. You’re probably wondering why only 3 stars? That’s because the patient coordinator position is critical. This is the person who tells you what meds to order, trains you to administer them, and keeps you on schedule regarding stopping some meds and starting others. This person changed twice while we were with them, and this was a stressor for me. The other stare is for lack of suitable after care. They were very good about stopping my prescription meds, but not about getting me back on them. I was left a hormonal mess, and their psychologist just suggested I was «grieving.» What, the success?

I went there for treatment for ectopic pregnancy. The staff was rude, not professional at all, and quite insensitive. When I was crying for losing the pregnancy, no one even offered me a tissue to wipe my face! The staff was laughing loudly and gossiping within earshot when my husband and I were obviously distraught and waiting in the reception. I don’t expect them to be quiet for our sake, but when you label yourself «Fertility physicians» and charge an arm and a leg, we except some degree of professionalism.
Now, coming to the post-​shot care. It is the WORST I have ever experienced (and if you look at my reviews, I rarely give anything negative at all). I was required to get regular blood tests to make sure that my HCG levels were dropping. The staff will NEVER EVER answer any phone calls made to them. EVER! Their voice mail actually says that they will not call back after 2 pm. They will return calls about your own test results as and when they see fit. Very very unprofessional!!! When I am paying as much as I am, I really expect better care. I am not expecting special treatment here, but I do except some sensitivity from someone who calls themselves «fertility physicians» and charges as much as they do.
After getting the first shot, I was in so much pain that I had to go to the emergency room twice in 10 days. Each time, I called the doctors at FPNC after the ER visit and they did not even ask me to come in for a follow up! The third time that I was experiencing pain again, I was lucky enough to catch Dr. Adamson on a Sunday. And he is the only reason I am giving them 3 stars instead of 0. He immediately had me come in, spoke with us for 45 mins — 1 hr, suggested we strongly consider surgery (I denied), and said that at the very least, he was not going to have us leave without another methotrexate shot.
Dr. Adamson was very professional, kind, understanding, and even explained us the risks in mathematical and probabilistic terms (after knowing that we are engineers and understand the language of math best). I actually got better after the second shot, and following up with Dr. Adamson. If you have to go here, then he’s the doctor I’d recommend!

Hubby’s and my experience with both FPNC Palo Alto and San Jose has been wonderful. Let me start by saying that this whole infertility roller coaster has been difficult, but the staff does its best to make things as painless as possible. Special shout outs to Drs Adamson and Nelson, Terri (our IVF coordinator), Celeste (one of the MAs), and Kelly (another) — they shine, in our eyes! The front desk staff in San Jose can definitely use some work, but the girls (and guys) in the back are phenomenal.
Our coordinator, Terri, went out of her way on numerous occasions to make sure I was keeping up with our schedule, knew what was going on every step of the way, and went so far as to offer hugs when she could see I was feeling defeated… something that is very rare in the medical industry.
After 6 failed IUIs, 1 IVF that resulted in a miscarriage, and now a VERY successful second IVF (TWINS!), I can finally say that we are saying goodbye to the folks here and moving on… bittersweet!

The only reason I give this place two stars is because the nurses are very sweet and doctors are nice as they should be. At first, the front desk team is horrible. No friendly greeting, asking how you are doing. One time, I needed to fax doctor’s order to the lab, I asked her if she could do it for me, she told me she didn’t have the number and I had to figure out myself. Really? One of the coordinators wasn’t that friendly either. She made me feel hesitated every time I need to ask questions.
Before you start, you should do research/​ask questions about all the hidden fees DURING the treatment. People there think you are rich and money wouldn’t be problem. During the meeting with the financial person, I was told that besides paying for the package, I had to pay extra for those test before the treatment started (such as checking tubes, counting eggs, sperms etc.), which was fine. They made me paid $ 19 for peeing on the stick even though I had already paid over $ 10,000 for the package + thousands of dollars for all those pre-​treament tests. When the treatment was done, I got bills (over $ 2,000) for those charges i wasn’t even aware of. This place will squeeze out every penny you have. My advice is that you should consult with at least another clinic before you decide.

The other reviews are spot on these guys are a bunch of clowns! My wife and I went through a frustrating two months of mix-​ups and overcharging at this awful establishment. They even pushed for a surgical treatment that wasn’t appropriate and that my Urologist said I didnt need just so they could charge us $ 11k more!
I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone! Very unprofessional scamsters and idiots !!

I wish there was a way to mark 0 star.
Please don’t repeat my mistake of choosing this clinic. Like a few others mentioned before, I chose this only because it was close by, and I paid dearly for this laziness and lack of research about infertility clinics.
And, yes, the staff were nice and the offices in both San Jose and Palo Alto are neat. But when it comes to infertility treatment, this is really far from being enough. The protocols they provide are really lackluster, and they would just follow what were popular many years ago, instead of catching up with the most recent research (I came to know this the hard way). Dr. Adamson would tell you he is the head of some council and he’s doing research, and he would throw a few papers for you to read, and it is really laughable as they dated back to last century. And as far as I see, the female doctor in PA and Dr. Kim are not much more than technicians who count AFC and estimate endometrim – actually, I would say they were much less accurate than nurses I encountered elsewhere.
Anyway, for people in the south Bay Area, please do yourself a favor and check out clinics nationally: ORM, CCRM, and clinics in southern CA. We don’t have much time or money to waste, when it comes to our biological clocks. Again, please don’t repeat my mistake of choosing this clinic.

Unfortunately I am a patient here because it is close to my work and home. Their DR and staff are nice but the service that was provided was not up to par. They are very unorganized and it’s like a factory throughout the whole ivf process. Despite the mixed review, try at your own risk!

While my wife and I were very frustrated by a number of scheduling mixups early on in the process (we started with IUI), everything changed once we decided to do IVF.
Not sure if it was just a coinicidence or better communication, but throughout the IVF process we’ve been pleasantly suprised with the attention to detail, the follow up calls, heart felt well wishes, etc.
And while each of the Doctors has their own style, we’ve been very happy with each interaction we’ve had with all of them.
I would definately recommend them to family and friends.

Fertility Physicians has good doctors and staff, and they really do their best to try and make your experience as positive (and successful!) as possible. Dr. Kim was my main doctor, although I saw almost all the other doctors there as well during my treatments, and felt comfortable with all of them. He was very patient, careful, and honest, which gave me the confidence to go through the procedures. He always made time for me, and thoroughly explained things in a way even I could understand.
They also have an office in San Jose close to Good Sam.

The Dr’s are great.
I loved the attention given to me during my IVF cycle. Although it was a bust, the DRs, their nurses, and the office staff were so friendly!
Dr. Adamson, one of their founders, wrote many books on fertility, gyn surgery procedures, and is VERY highly regarded in the community. I recommend a visit with him, even if the other MDs in the practice handle your cycle there. He gives it to you straight-​up and is very caring in his demeanor at the same time.
I had Dr’s Kim and Abusief for my cycle there, loved both of them, and the nurses were all very kind to me. Either chatting it up with me when I was having a +++ day, or patiently silent if I was in tears that day (the horomones on all those IVF meds do make you go beserk). I loved that the staff (PA office) knew me by name, knew my hubby from that first meeting we had, and always made small talk about what was going on in our lives. They really participate in this tremendous journey with you every step of the way.
If you have the $$ to afford it, I recommend trying a cycle of IVF here. They are upfront with the cost estimates as well (barring insurance coverage) and well, it’s not for the faint of pocketbook. They do work in conjunction with a financing company that has «cycle guarantees» if you qualify, so that a busted cycle gets you a partial refund. Look into that also!
Good luck, I hope anyone reading this is hopeful and keeps their spirits high to becoming a parent someday!

My wife and I did our second IVF cycle here, and she is currently 6 weeks pregnant. Today we went in and saw the heart beat. Needless to say, we are extremely excited.
We had better luck here than at Nova IVF. We did two cycles total, one with Nova, and one with Fertility Physicians. In these cycles, 23 and 26 mature eggs were extracted, respectively. The fertilization results at Nova IVF were poor, with only 8 eggs actually getting fertilized, and those being of poor quality in general. This is what led us to decide on a fresh cycle, since the chances of any of the frozen embryos implanting successfully seemed low.
The fertilization results at Fertility Physicians were vastly superior. We were very happy when the embryologist met us to let us know that 16 eggs fertilized, and many of the embryos ended up being high quality 8 and 7 cell embryos. 2 8-​cell embryos were implanted, and one latched.
Please note that we did have a great experience with both clinics in terms of the physicians and the quality of care. I would caution against making any strong conclusions based on our results, since so many different variables are at play.
Good luck to you all. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.