Columbia Fertility Associates – Washington, Vereinigte Staaten

This clinic was a nightmare. Communication was nonexistent, operational errors were frequent, and patient education was minimal, with almost no explanation of treatment plans or outcomes, whether good or bad. Appointments never ran on time, and monitoring took the entire day. We transferred to SGF, which felt like a private clinic offering dedicated fertility guidance—a world apart from this clinic's chaos. If you use insurance or need more than the most basic care, do not come here. Fertility treatment already involves enough administrative work; it can be much easier and less stressful than this clinic makes it.

Stay away! I had PRP treatment. My menstrual cycles were regular before it, but they have been irregular ever since. I had previously visited another clinic three times, and after one PRP treatment, they claimed I was 'not their patient.' After the procedure, they gave me no treatment plan or guidance for my next menstrual cycle. The entire procedure felt like an assembly line. I had two egg retrievals at CCRM, and I can confidently say my experience at CFA was a nightmare. Stay away!

Thank you so much to the receptionist who helped upload my medical records to the patient portal this morning! I know the timing was tight, and I truly appreciate it :)

A warning to everyone: do not agree to any tests, including bloodwork or ultrasound, unless you understand the cost and are prepared to pay out of pocket. Months later, my insurer denied payment for tests recommended here, leaving me with over $1,000 in out-of-pocket costs. CFA should have warned me or provided an estimate beforehand, but said nothing. This is especially concerning because 99.9% of insurance plans do not cover these tests in circumstances like mine. I had no idea, but this should be common knowledge in the industry. Had I known, I would never have agreed to the tests. I am extremely frustrated and disappointed.

Stay away! My experience was terrible. The staff were disorganized, rude, and generally incompetent. I do not think the clinic will last long. My initial consultation with Dr. Sacks felt positive, but after payment, communication became inconsistent and contradictory. I repeatedly called and emailed to ask which medications to take and when. Imani, the clinic manager, replied rudely and gave information completely different from what the doctor said in person. They promised a refund, which I am still pursuing. CFA staff lack professionalism and respect for patients. Please be careful!

The team at Columbia Fertility Associates changed my life. Their director, Dr. Preston Sacks, accepted me as an older patient when most other clinics would have rejected me outright, mainly, I believe, because they did not want an older patient lowering their success rates. Columbia Fertility Associates made the entire process feel as easy as routine medical care rather than a complex specialized treatment. I delivered a healthy, beautiful, full-term baby, and I truly do not think this would have happened without Columbia Fertility Associates, especially Dr. Sacks. If you are struggling with fertility care or have been turned away by other clinics, do not hesitate to see Dr. Sacks. He changed my life. The only thing I would improve based on my experience is communication from the front desk and patient coordinators. Reaching staff was often difficult, but honestly, I have had this problem at every clinic I have visited. It was certainly not a deciding factor. For me, achieving the outcome I wanted was far more important than having a perfectly seamless office experience.

My experience at Columbia Fertility Associates was exceptional. Everyone I met was warm, kind, and respectful. First, Mariana impressed me from my initial phone call. Her friendly voice, patience, and extensive knowledge immediately put me at ease. She patiently answered every question and was just as warm in person. Mariana set the tone for the thoughtful, professional care I received at Columbia Fertility Associates. There was also a wonderful woman at the front desk whose name I unfortunately do not know because we had little direct contact. Still, every time I entered, she welcomed me with the warmest smile. It may seem like a small gesture, but it meant a great deal. Her kindness created the welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that led me to choose Columbia Fertility Associates. Dr. Abbasi is an angel. She is calm, compassionate, and very patient. I consulted several doctors before deciding, but the moment I met her, I knew she was the right choice. She always encourages questions, never rushes patients, and takes time to explain everything clearly. I also learned that she had lived in my country for several years, and hearing her speak about it so fondly was deeply heartwarming. Her combination of medical skill, kindness, and warmth is rare. I also love the atmosphere of her office, a peaceful, welcoming place. The decor, beautiful artwork, and view create a warm, calm setting that immediately helps you relax. You can take a deep breath, trust her completely, and know you are receiving excellent care. That comfort and positivity truly reflect Dr. Abbasi as both a person and physician. I genuinely trust and highly recommend her. She is an exceptionally kind person. Even the billing staff stood out for their kindness and professionalism. Khadija was very patient and explained everything carefully. She ensured that I fully understood every detail and always gave me an opportunity to ask questions, which I greatly appreciated. The nursing team was also excellent. Nurse Gwen was warm, energetic, and very patient, and Nurse Crystal was equally kind, energetic, and understanding. On the first day, Nurse Iman administered my injections. She was wonderful: gentle, thoughtful, and reassuring. She carefully explained every step and checked how I felt after each injection. I am very afraid of needles, but her calm, caring approach made the process unexpectedly easy. She is a truly kind person. For the next 2 days, Nurse Anna Bell administered my injections. She was very friendly and clearly knew exactly how to give them, so I did not feel anxious. Later, I had to leave briefly for personal reasons, and everyone at the clinic was kind and considerate. Words cannot describe how friendly everyone in the office was. They genuinely want you to be happy and succeed. Finally, special thanks to the woman who drew my blood, whose name I believe was Frances. She is highly skilled. People often have difficulty finding my veins, but Frances succeeded on the first attempt every time. She made the process quick, smooth, and completely painless. Every staff member at Columbia Fertility Associates contributed to my wonderful experience. It is rare to find a place where every interaction is so genuine and caring. I sincerely thank the entire team for making a potentially stressful process feel comfortable and supportive.

I have never had a more bizarre, terrible, or unprofessional experience with a medical provider than I had with CFA. After the initial consultation, Dr. Sacks requested several pretreatment tests but somehow refused to arrange them himself and tried to shift responsibility to my OB-GYN. Communication during this period was terrible. Dr. Sacks answered questions only by email, sometimes taking weeks or longer to respond. He refused to arrange the genetic carrier screening he required, again trying to pass it to my other doctors and even arguing with me when I explained that those doctors understandably would not order testing for him. After months of back-and-forth, he vaguely mentioned several times that he would mail a test kit to my home, but after repeated follow-up attempts, he stopped responding entirely. We received almost no response from CFA. In short, we wasted months pursuing treatment at CFA. Anyone who has experienced a fertility journey knows time is critical. We later went to Shady Grove and completed all testing within one week. We spent nearly 6 months going back and forth with CFA trying to accomplish what Shady Grove did in one week—unbelievable. I strongly recommend avoiding CFA under all circumstances. Shady Grove has been excellent so far, with welcoming staff, good communication and education, and steady treatment progress. Please do not waste your time at CFA as we did! If anyone at CFA or Dr. Sacks is still reading these reviews, know that your clinic is an embarrassment to reproductive healthcare. Other healthcare providers I consulted were shocked by my experience. If Dr. Sacks no longer wants to work, he should retire, and the entire clinic needs to overhaul its processes.

We were looking at multiple fertility clinics in the area when we decided to have our second one, and this one didn't make the cut. Right away they muddled up the details of my wife's appointment, so we decided to pass. Moreover, unlike the clinic we chose to work with, which just charged a reasonable amount up-front, CFA workers didn't provide us with any information about the price of the initial (Zoom) consultation costs: they just told us they will charge our insurance and that we shouldn't worry about it. The claim was denied for unknown reasons -- and we got slapped with a $405 bill two months after the fact -- for a 30 minute measly Zoom call, which wasn't even with the doctor herself. Then I spent a whole week and 5-6 phone calls trying to get the person responsible for the account to call me back -- which she never did.

**Beware of billing fraud** I am not surprised this business has such a low rating. I only wish I had checked Yelp first! My profile shows that I rate most experiences and businesses highly, and I consider myself calm and fair. I considered going to CFA for fertility testing for my husband and me. We had a consultation with one of their doctors over Zoom that lasted about 15 minutes. I received a bill for more than $400 under CPT code 99205, which represents a 60–75-minute office visit; you can look up the code yourself. I contacted the company and explained that the appointment was very short and that I believed the CPT code inaccurately represented the physician’s time. I received an extremely rude response defending the code. They incorrectly said the code included documentation time, but it does not; even if it did, that would mean 45 minutes of documentation for me. It is deeply disappointing and upsetting to be charged for a service I did not receive. I even said I would gladly pay under an accurate CPT code, even one for 30 minutes, but they refused to compromise. Unfortunately, they hold the proof of the appointment length because it is in the provider’s Zoom account. I wish I could produce that evidence, though we can all guess they will not. Be careful!

Warning: If you are 35 or older, you are better off receiving treatment at Shady Grove Fertility! I had long intended to revise my previous review of Columbia Fertility Associates, and I finally found the time. Initially, I did not know what to expect because Columbia was my first experience with fertility treatment. Looking back and comparing it with SGF, my care was inadequate. I realized that I never received a proper consultation, which set the stage for a poor first experience. I felt there was no real professional guidance. Once my provider left, I was handed over to a doctor who did not seem to care whether I achieved my goal. His attitude often suggested that he was interested only in collecting payment. When I finally completed my first IVF cycle and came away empty-handed, this doctor quickly recommended donor eggs. I was still well under 40 and had time to succeed. When I met with him to discuss my care, his responses were often cold and indifferent. My family urged me to make a change, and I am glad I did. SGF is a different world! No organization is perfect, but I felt better supported by capable providers who genuinely cared. The staff were more pleasant, and the organization itself was more organized and efficient. They pursue excellence. I was told that the treatment plan used for my first cycle at Columbia had not maximized my chances because an important medication was omitted. My new SGF provider was quite puzzled by this basic omission. I will never know whether this oversight was pure incompetence or partly intentional, but I feel I dodged a bullet by quickly ending my care with Columbia Fertility Associates. (The front-desk staff at the time were unprofessional and terrible. I never received a patient-portal link while I was there. Save yourself the headache and disappointment. SGF leads in success rates—look it up.)

We had a terrible experience here. The staff were extremely disorganized and communication was poor. Working with Dr. Abbasi was fine, but if you want any kind of bedside manner, she is not the doctor for you. We froze embryos but received very little guidance or information about the process. Financial billing was a mess because they did not know how to bill our insurance, Massachusetts BCBS, correctly. None of the embryos survived, so it was a complete waste of time and money. We will try Shady Grove next.

Run. I do not recommend CFA. From poor bedside manner to billing errors and a lack of empathy, my experience was terrible. I underwent two IVF cycles and two PRP procedures with Dr. Abbasi, and every one was stressful and chaotic. The clinic failed to educate patients, set expectations, or keep them informed. At every appointment I had to ask for details about my progress, only to be told by Dr. Abbasi or her nurse Iman to wait for the laboratory results. When the results arrived, no one explained them unless I followed up repeatedly. I felt rushed during appointments, and my questions were often dismissed or only partly answered. During my first IVF cycle, I contacted nurse Gigi for help managing my medication. Instead of calling me, she texted incomplete instructions and ultimately left me to figure things out the next day. On Christmas Day, I received a heartbreaking email from Iman about the progress of my IVF cycle—no phone call, just an email. Billing was another nightmare. CFA requested $6,000 from my fertility loan for an IVF cycle that was never fully completed, then took more than three months to refund me, causing unnecessary interest charges. My inquiries about resolving this were treated with no urgency. I should note that Khadija was very helpful in understanding health-insurance benefits. The clinic was disorganized and inefficient. For example, I was told to purchase two vials of sperm because they did not realize I already had one stored at the clinic—another costly error. The final straw was Dr. Abbasi giving me incorrect information about my initial data and having me begin another IVF cycle without explaining why the prior cycle failed or the rationale behind the new protocol. Many of my emails were ignored. At first, I thought the confusion was simply part of fertility treatment. After switching to a new clinic, however, I learned that fertility care can be seamless, supportive, and organized—CFA was none of those things.

My initial visit with the doctor was good, but I have never had a worse customer-service experience than at Columbia Fertility Associates. I could never get an answer by phone or text. I strongly recommend seeking treatment elsewhere.