Dr. Sahar Stephens, United States

We do not recommend this clinic. We attended for about a year and completed all testing, which showed we were healthy and could use IUI as an option for pregnancy. Unfortunately, customer service is terrible. When you call, the person you need is never there, and messages are returned three or four days later, which is exhausting. At the end of treatment, I also developed a very large cyst on my right ovary that strangled the ovary and required emergency surgery. We informed the clinic, but they showed no concern, offered no help, and were unmoved by our distress. Nearly two months after surgery, our goal is still to have a child, but we have less money because of the treatment costs and scars from surgery. Customer service is essential for any company, especially for a sensitive service involving families, but the service here is ineffective. Jacqueline Camila Akram.

I would absolutely return here for any fertility needs. They helped my husband and me conceive our daughter after we had struggled for so long. The staff is amazing! If you have questions, feel free to contact them. We had the best experience there. Our baby girl is now at 22 weeks, and we cannot wait!

Dr. Stephens, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the exceptional care and kindness you showed me during my IVF journey. I will never forget the compassion and support you provided through this extremely overwhelming process. Thank you for accepting me as your patient. May kindness always be with you :)

This clinic is frustrating. I began working with them in 2025/1 to arrange the transfer of frozen embryos from another facility. Once everything was ready, I was told they no longer accepted embryos from other providers. Was this on their website? No. They simply waste your time and money and change policies whenever they please.

Amazing!! Thanks to NCIVF, I am currently holding one of my sons. I was able to transfer two embryos and became pregnant with twins on the first attempt—two healthy baby boys. Thank you to the staff for being so patient and helping me through the entire process. My life has changed forever!

I could not get a direct answer from an NCFMC representative. For any question, I was told to ‘complete all the forms,’ which required my and my partner's dates of birth. The entire process felt dehumanizing.

I recently started going to NCFMC and am very impressed with Dr. Murray and his entire team. His cycle coordinator, Valeriya, has been extremely helpful and responsive—her guidance and support made a tremendous difference from the start. Everyone I have interacted with has been kind, professional, and genuinely supportive. I feel hopeful and very grateful to be receiving such good care.

I would recommend this place to anyone. Everyone here is very kind and professional. Mari, the phlebotomist, is my favorite. She makes me feel very safe and is extremely careful in everything she does. I have seen many other staff members for IVF monitoring and cannot remember all their names, but they were all wonderful too. The front desk staff are always easygoing. Coming here genuinely feels like walking into my salon or somewhere similarly welcoming. The facility is also very clean and professional, but the kindness stands out most to me!

After more than six years of infertility, my husband and I decided to pursue IVF. NCFM was wonderful from start to finish. In November, we welcomed our beautiful baby girl. Many thanks to Dr. Murry and everyone at NCFM.

My partner and I had a wonderful experience at NCFMC! They were professional, thorough, and kind throughout the process. They promptly answered all my questions and concerns. We needed only one egg retrieval and embryo transfer. Our little embryo is now almost one month old. ❤️ I highly recommend this clinic.

I will never recommend this clinic to anyone. It is extremely expensive, every test is outrageously priced, and they accept no insurance. They talk to you but mislead you. They charge without reason, schedule tests without informing you, and discuss your private circumstances with others behind your back. You never receive feedback or updates, only incorrect information. The staff are highly unprofessional; avoid this clinic at all costs. They also schedule procedures without your knowledge and tell you unnecessary services are required so they can charge more. You may need one procedure, but they say other things must be done first, which makes no sense. It is exhausting and takes far longer than the two weeks they initially promise. They give hopeful messages but no good results, go in circles, and schedule unnecessary tests without the doctor’s approval. They treat customers terribly, the front desk service is poor, and the entire experience is awful. Even after repeated requests, they forget to provide receipts and email documents instead of mailing them to your home as requested. Information is consistently misleading. Be careful about what they say and what you tell them because they will take advantage of you. Anyone reading this should be careful where you go, what you say and do, and whom you speak with at this organization.

First, this review is not about the doctors. My experience concerns only the staff and billing department. My insurance is a resident plan that excludes fertility coverage except for initial consultations and diagnostic testing such as saline sonograms and ultrasounds. I also have limited benefits through Carrot. When scheduling, I casually mentioned that my Carrot benefit could be used for IVF, and I wish I had not. Billing immediately said that because I mentioned Carrot, they could not bill my insurance and my consultation would be treated as self-pay at $375. I agreed that IVF treatment was not covered, but explained that my network plan confirmed coverage for the initial visit and diagnostics. I specifically asked them to bill the initial visit to insurance so it would count toward my out-of-pocket costs. They flatly refused, claiming that once a patient mentions Carrot they are ‘not allowed’ to bill insurance, which makes no sense. I contacted five other clinics, two in Sacramento and three in the Bay Area. All billed insurance for the initial consultation and diagnostic ultrasound without issue while allowing Carrot benefits to cover other treatment such as retrieval and transfer. As expected, my insurance covered those consultations, and I paid less than this clinic’s $375 ‘cash price.’ Again, I know I do not have fertility coverage; I only wanted the clinic to bill insurance for the initial consultation. I had no objection to paying the remaining treatment costs with Carrot benefits. I asked billing for the CPT code they used while insisting my consultation was not covered, but they said they could not provide it. I even asked whether they could confirm that I actually had Carrot benefits. They admitted they could not, yet still refused to submit an insurance claim solely because I had mentioned Carrot to the front desk. My mistake. I canceled the appointment. Frankly, the experience was confusing, frustrating, and a major red flag. A clinic refusing even to try billing insurance for a covered initial consultation or diagnostic service raises serious concerns about its billing practices.

The staff at NCFMC are truly amazing. Although we are still hoping to realize our dream of becoming parents, the staff are always responsive and supportive. The number of patients they see and the attention they give each one are commendable. Tara and Maria are kind and thoughtful. They never make me feel unable to ask questions, never judge me even when appointments leave me in tears, and always encourage me. Mari, Graciela, Mistie, the surgical team—everyone is so kind! I could go on, but you will not regret choosing this clinic ❤️

If you want to experience a scam, come here! I previously scheduled an initial appointment that cost $375. I later became pregnant and called to cancel. They refused to refund my $375, saying I could still have a telephone appointment. Why would I need a telephone appointment when I am already pregnant? They still refuse to issue my refund. Their lack of common sense and appalling treatment of customers are unacceptable. There are many other clinics in the Sacramento area. Do not become another victim of their fraudulent practices.

If you need fertility care, this is the place to go! Dr. Doblado, Melissa, Tara, and everyone else at the clinic were wonderful. We received excellent customer service, and every need my wife and I had was met. I also want to mention that we are a same-sex couple and were not treated any differently from anyone else. We are happy to announce that we are expecting a boy and have graduated from the clinic ❤️ Thank you for all your help during this stressful time in our lives and for making everything as smooth and easy as possible!

This clinic is incredibly frustrating. We completed several rounds of lab tests because they did not include all the required tests the first time, genetic testing and a genetic counseling session, a Pap smear, and a psychological consultation. They refused to begin IUI until we completed a second genetic consultation, even though it was clear that none of our recessive traits matched. They also said I had to see an MFM specialist, although the first MFM they referred me to said there was no reason to see them before I became pregnant. Now the second MFM they recommended requires prior authorization and is booked more than a month out. Every step seems to meet resistance, and the checklist never ends.

Dear Northern Fertility team, I am thrilled to share that my first intrauterine insemination (IUI) was successful! Choosing Northern Fertility was absolutely one of the best decisions I have made. The entire process was smooth, comfortable, and filled with positive energy. Special thanks to nurse practitioner Angela Brooks—you are truly the best! Your energy, encouragement, and care played a vital role throughout the process. I am also very grateful to the entire team, from the front desk to the laboratory, for making every step easy and stress-free. Heartfelt thanks to each of you for making this dream a reality. 🌸

Dr. Generao was excellent before, during, and after surgery. I am 55 and had a vasectomy at 40. My wife is young, and she restored my fertility. I now have a beautiful 9-month-old daughter 👶. Thank you, doctor and team. David.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I especially want to thank nurse Danielle and care coordinator Kaitlyn at Northern California Fertility Medical Center. They were indispensable throughout the process and made an enormous difference in my experience. Danielle was incredible—calm and confident, and a tremendous comfort during my most difficult and frightening moments. From preparing me before egg retrieval to guiding me step by step in the operating room, she gave me care and reassurance I had not even realized I needed. She is the kind of nurse who makes you feel safe, seen, and genuinely cared for, never neglected or overlooked. My care coordinator, Kaitlyn, guided me from the very beginning. She answered my questions, coordinated schedules, sent reminders, and helped me understand medications, appointments, and next steps. She kept everything organized even when my mind was overwhelmed with information. Danielle's attentive care and Kaitlyn's thoughtful organization and support made me feel I had a dream IVF team. There are many wonderful people at this clinic, but these two especially deserve recognition. Forever grateful to them. 💕🩺🌈

The service at NCFMC was outstanding. They scheduled my consultation within one week, from my first appointment request to meeting Dr. Murray. The nurses were very kind and efficient. Dr. Murray is an excellent doctor. He listened carefully to my concerns, developed the best treatment plan for me, and prepared a backup plan if needed. I am very grateful to him and his team.

NCFMC is one of only two IVF clinics in Sacramento, so we had few choices. My first IVF treatment was with Dr. Hackett. She had a poor attitude and was indifferent to our struggles after five failed IUIs. I chose Dr. Stephens for my second and third egg retrievals, but neither produced a normal embryo. Now I have been placed on Dr. Stephens's waiting list! Unbelievable! This is not a good doctor-patient relationship. I paid out of pocket for all three treatments, but NCFMC does not seem to care. Although everyone is friendly, personalized care and attention are difficult to obtain. They were kind after my first transfer and miscarriage, but I never had the same experience again. It is very disappointing.

Dr. Murray is always courteous and an excellent listener. He is highly skilled and knows his field thoroughly. As a returning patient, I trust his careful, meticulous approach. He has shown genuine concern, and I have never felt ignored or dismissed. I highly recommend him and have referred several friends. Assistant Val was very considerate, especially given my limited insurance coverage. I appreciated how the team handled the lab order by adjusting billing codes so my insurer would not deny it. Val was patient, friendly, and sincerely understood my situation. The clinic did everything possible to help reduce my financial burden. I truly felt cared for and supported. Thank you!

I used their services for outside monitoring because my primary fertility clinic is on the East Coast. My experience highlighted several logistical challenges patients should consider when coordinating treatment across time zones. Because of the three-hour time difference, same-day clinical decisions depend on results being faxed and received quickly. In my case, same-day transmission was inconsistent and required repeated follow-up. I understand they have procedures to follow, bloodwork and ultrasounds take time, and faxes can fail. However, when medical decisions are time-sensitive, delayed or failed fax communication creates enormous stress and may affect care. Please add more secure, rapid options for connecting with outside monitoring clinics to ensure reliable communication. Weekend appointments created additional challenges. With the time difference and limited coordination window, there is almost no room for error if results are not sent promptly. There also appears to be no dedicated outside-monitoring coordination process for East Coast patients. At every appointment, I told anyone who would listen that I was from Pennsylvania and that my clinic was also there. Regardless, patients are responsible for ensuring orders are received, results are faxed, and both clinics confirm receipt. This creates a heavy administrative burden for patients already navigating a complex, time-sensitive treatment cycle. I also had to coordinate flights back to Pennsylvania and other travel arrangements, while hoping to reduce at least some of the stress. The clinical staff were polite during my in-person outside-monitoring visits, but the process between clinics in different time zones urgently needs improvement, particularly reliable same-day result transmission and coordination. My experience was terrible :( So far, each outside treatment visit has cost about $1,200. For patients needing outside monitoring across time zones, coordination should be smoother or at least include secure patient-provider email communication. I repeatedly emphasized the time-zone difference and my state of residence, and my spouse can confirm this, but this is the current process—what else can I do?

My husband and I first went to NCFMC in 2020. We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility after TTC for 8 years. Since this time we had our son born in November 2021 and our daughter in May 2024. Both were frozen embryo transfers after successfully doing IVF. I’m so thankful to God for answering our prayers through guiding us to choose treatment through NCFMC. We are currently heading to do our 3rd embryo transfer!

***April 1 update: I am currently receiving outside monitoring while my primary fertility clinic is in Pennsylvania, three hours behind my location, and I have repeatedly experienced delayed and failed faxes. Each time this happens, I am told the only solution is to resend the fax, with no alternative offered. Given the time-sensitive nature of fertility treatment, this has created tremendous stress while preparing for my frozen embryo transfer (FET). I explained to the front desk representative, Joy, that although I understood their policy requiring fax, HIPAA allows secure, encrypted communication between healthcare providers. Because of the repeated fax delays and failures, I asked whether they could make an exception and accept a secure email sent directly by my doctor. I also specifically requested to speak with a manager. However, I was transferred to Rachel A., an administrator who was out of the office, and was later told that she was not a manager, contrary to my request to Joy. I was also told that the actual manager, Shauna, would not return my call on April 1. Before I had even finished explaining my concerns, Rachel stated bluntly, 'The rules are the rules, and Joy made that clear the first time.' She refused to consider any alternative. She also incorrectly claimed that secure provider-to-provider email was not HIPAA-compliant. I have a healthcare background and had explained this, but she escalated further and said my profession was irrelevant. Rachel clearly lacked management training for handling this type of matter, as shown by the way she spoke to me and the incorrect information she provided. She seemed more concerned with getting her colleagues back to work than hearing my suggestions for resolving an operational bottleneck affecting my overall care. Most concerning was her lack of empathy and professionalism. When I said that even as an outside monitoring patient I was still a patient, Rachel replied that the word 'outside,' rather than 'patient,' seemed to have 'triggered' me. This was inappropriate and dismissive toward someone undergoing fertility treatment. I was told the call had lasted 12 minutes and that she was ending it. Despite my repeated requests for accommodation and understanding, expressed in different ways, the rule and outcome remained the same. I am an out-of-state patient from Pennsylvania who moved here under military orders, and several prior faxes have had problems. I also need time-sensitive frozen embryo transfer treatment involving letrozole. Although I explained that I am a military family member and returning to my primary clinic is impractical, they repeatedly emphasized that outside monitoring is merely 'a convenience.' When a policy creates a barrier in an urgent medical situation, there should be an effort to find a solution instead of simply repeating rigid rules. My spouse later called as well and was told no, the fax still had not been received, and that I should resend it or contact my primary clinic. But contacting my primary clinic does not prevent fax delays or failures; only providing another secure communication method would solve the problem. The order was sent Tuesday to provide a buffer before Thursday, which is tomorrow and cycle day 3. The Tuesday order had been faxed, but throughout Wednesday nothing was received despite repeated attempts. When will the root cause be addressed? This issue has continued since February. Overall, this experience has significantly increased my stress during an already difficult treatment. My frozen embryo transfer requires letrozole, so timing is critical! I wish I had chosen another outside monitoring provider. I never imagined that their fax system, combined with a lack of empathy and critical thinking to improve the process, would become such a major barrier to care. I requested a manager but was denied escalation, exactly as Rachel A. had said—unfortunately, this proved true. The HIPAA information they gave me was incorrect, and their stated core values of 'respect, compassion, and integrity' were not demonstrated at all. I understand their policy is to use fax, but they refused to make an exception. The current process simply does not work for me as an out-of-state patient because my primary clinic is in another time zone and fax transmission is unreliable. This is disastrous, yet they do not care, while I am paying more than $1,200 for this poor monitoring service.

The people were nice, but we left immediately because their system is still stuck in the 1980s. Their technology is far too outdated. It is so easy to use current technology now—or at least not be 40 years behind. You cannot even reply to messages in the system they require you to use. Absolutely terrible.