Carolinas Fertility Institute - Charlotte, United States

I had an excellent experience at this clinic and would return for any future fertility needs. We were very pleased with the nurses and doctors, especially Dr. Mason. My baby is now almost two and a half months old! Thank you so much for their attentive care.

Words cannot express how grateful I am to Carolina Fertility Institute. Today was my embryo transfer, and the entire experience was amazing. Excellent service: From the moment we entered the institute, the atmosphere felt warm, organized, and reassuring. Their attention to every detail brought me tremendous relief on such an emotional day. Outstanding team: From the nurses and embryologists to the doctors, every staff member treated me like family and was fully committed to my care. They patiently answered every question and made sure my partner and I felt supported, well informed, and comfortable at every step. Exceptional care: The medical care here is first-rate. The procedure was smooth and calm and demonstrated the highest level of professionalism. Fertility treatment can be a stressful journey, but at Carolina Fertility Institute, you feel like more than just a patient. They give you hope and treat you with genuine kindness. We are incredibly grateful to the entire team!

We completed one IVF cycle here with Dr. Mason. Although it was unsuccessful, Dr. Mason was wonderful throughout. I saw him many times compared with other clinics I have visited, where I barely saw the doctor. He even called several times with updates. He is direct, but I sincerely recommend him. He did everything possible to achieve a good result. The nurses were also wonderful and communicated very well. He explained everything patiently and thoroughly, and I understand that IVF clinics are busy. The only issue was the clinic's egg donor program. Communication was poor, responses took several days, and we missed out on an excellent egg donor. I therefore decided to go elsewhere, but for standard IVF, they were wonderful!

I called and left messages several times requesting a refund of my consultation fee because the earliest appointment this clinic could offer was February 2021, and my insurance did not cover the procedure. My circumstances were unusual, and I could not wait 90 days to see a doctor. They disclosed this timeline only after I paid. Initially, they said the refund would be returned to my card. After I repeatedly called about it, I was told the company does not refund credit cards. I had been calling since early November. Why could they not simply return the payment to my card? They told me refunds are mailed only by check and are not returned to credit cards. This felt very suspicious. They required me to pay a $240 appointment fee over the phone, then refused a refund if I canceled or did not want to wait months to see a doctor. They should have disclosed the schedule before booking the appointment; I would never have agreed to those terms. This raises serious integrity concerns and many questions. It is certainly not excellent customer service. Who knows how they treat patients and embryos... Response to the clinic director: The clinic could not tell me when the payment was mailed or provide a check number, and I still have not received it. Your response is inaccurate, dismissive, and shows no investigation. If the check was truly mailed, there is no reason not to return my calls. I suspect this is not the first time this has happened, and everyone at Carolina Fertility seems indifferent. I imagine everyone is enjoying lunch and laughing at me. There is not one honest person there.

If I could give zero stars, I would. I am sharing concerns about my experience, particularly the organization, communication, and care coordination during two IVF cycles in December 2025 and March 2026. Throughout treatment, repeated problems made an already stressful process even more difficult. My results were delayed several times, and some had been available for days before anyone notified me. This happened more than once. Different nurses also contacted me about the same result without knowing the information had already been shared. This repeated lack of internal coordination was frustrating and made me question whether choosing them as my provider had been wise. During my second egg retrieval cycle, my treatment plan was changed without advance notice, leaving us completely unprepared on the day of the procedure. Although the doctor apologized, which I appreciated, the incident caused unnecessary stress and affected my trust in the treatment process and care team. A recent communication also made me uncomfortable. I was told that we had already discussed the "most likely outcome," implying that no further discussion was needed. Given the complexity and emotional burden of fertility treatment, this response felt dismissive and did not meet the level of communication and support I expected. When I chose this clinic, I fully understood my prognosis and had realistic expectations about possible outcomes. However, I did not expect this to affect the level of communication, coordination, and attention from the care team. Unfortunately, my experience has left me deeply regretting my decision to choose them. Clear, timely, and coordinated communication is essential during a complex process like IVF.

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Mason and all the wonderful nurses and staff at Carolina Fertility Institute (CFI). Over the past 16 months, we received compassionate, personalized care. We could not imagine a kinder team; they went above and beyond to ensure we felt heard and comfortable at every step of our fertility journey. We highly recommend Carolina Fertility Institute.

We had a few minor setbacks before starting IVF, but things improved afterward. The nurses and Dr. Mason were wonderful. Heather was our primary nurse and truly a blessing. Since IVF began, time has flown. Although the process is emotionally exhausting, having such a great team made everything much easier. We hope to graduate next week and look forward to working with them again for more babies in the future! 💜

This was the worst medical experience of my life. Dr. Mason is the most unprofessional, inconsiderate, and impatient doctor I have ever met. Please do not dismiss my review. I left the clinic feeling deeply violated. From the moment we entered his office, he was indifferent toward me. He spoke extremely quickly, and the entire visit was filled with negativity. He offered almost no treatment options and only listed negative statistics. He even explicitly stated that he had not reviewed my medical records because they were 50 pages long. I believe discrimination was a key factor in this visit, and I will continue filing complaints and pursuing the matter. My husband was also extremely angry, but he remained calm and did nothing inappropriate. The ultrasound room did not even have towels. My transvaginal ultrasound was extremely distressing. Even hours after the visit, I could still feel the pressure, which made me feel even more violated. This man should not be practicing medicine. While we waited to enter his office, he shouted from inside while nurses whispered nearby that he could attend their barbecue. He implied that he would ‘fit right in!’ Every part of the visit was humiliating. I regret wasting any time there. I will make sure my insurance company denies the claim. I had to ask about other options because he offered none. He actually suggested removing my uterus?! I clearly said no, I only wanted the fibroids removed, and he agreed?! Who is this person? He is the most unprofessional and rude doctor I have ever encountered. Edit: I wrote this review in the morning while I was still anxious and upset by the experience. Think carefully before choosing this practice. The negative reviews about Dr. Mason are true. Update: After my terrible experience at this clinic, I switched to Carolina Conceptions. My baby is now almost a toddler. Trust your instincts and your heart. Do not let vulnerability and emotion lead you to settle. Find the right medical practice and team to support your fertility journey. If something feels wrong, it is not right for you. 🙏🏽❤️🙌🏽

Does anyone know whether I can still receive this treatment if my fallopian tubes have been cut? Thank you.

Yes! Choose them! This review is long, but trust me and keep reading... Whether this is your first time seeking fertility care or, like us, you have visited other clinics and feel hopeless, stop searching. Dr. Mesen and Dr. Y are unquestionably among the best in the field. Over the previous five years, we saw many well-known, even "celebrity," doctors in Los Angeles and Atlanta. We completed three full IVF cycles and had another canceled for various reasons before finally looking for the right doctor near our home in Charlotte. After reading 99.9% positive reviews of CFI and speaking with patients through Facebook support groups, we made one of the best decisions of our lives and consulted Dr. Y. We expected to have to explain our entire infertility history all over again, as we had at other clinics. Instead, Dr. Y took the time to review our extensive test results, data, physicians' notes, prior IVF outcomes, and more, and he truly understood our story. He was warm, kind, knowledgeable, helpful, and direct. Dr. Mesen, who handled most of my appointments, was the same. If you truly want help and answers, you do not want anyone to sugarcoat the situation. We learned at other clinics that this only leads to pain, unanswered questions, wasted time, lost money, and no baby. From the beginning, Dr. Y and Dr. Mesen created a thoughtful treatment plan and asked us to trust them and their leading advanced laboratory technology. We had never encountered this technology elsewhere; other clinics had not even mentioned that it existed or how it could change treatment outcomes. We trusted them completely. They shared information and options at every step. Whenever we had an appointment, emailed, or called, the entire CFI staff in Charlotte and Winston-Salem showed exceptional professionalism, communication skills, and empathy. Other clinics had made us feel like just another patient. If you hear that CFI has long waits, whether for an initial consultation or on the day of an appointment, ask yourself two questions: "Do I care more about waiting to see the doctor, or waiting those precious 9 months for the baby I never thought I would have?" and "Would I rather see a doctor immediately in an empty waiting room and be rushed through, or visit a busy clinic where the doctor takes time with every patient, understands each case, and has a long waitlist for a reason?" We chose the latter. In May 2021, at age 42, my 53-year-old husband and I welcomed our beautiful daughter. Dr. Y and Dr. Mesen made the right choices on the first try. My best advice is to go to CFI and trust them. If they tell you to delay a transfer, egg retrieval, or any other procedure because of X, Y, or Z, trust them. They are experienced and deservedly recognized among the country's leading fertility specialists. 🥰 Finally, special thanks to Lori Marion at CFI, who was our lifesaver. She is kindhearted and wonderful! We highly recommend CFI—one million stars. 😍🤩😁

This clinic performed my procedure without prior authorization from my insurance company. They later refused to accept any responsibility, leaving us with a $5,000 bill and no pregnancy. The billing representative even admitted that they called my insurer to verify whether the medical code they intended to use required prior authorization, but then used a different code without checking it.

I would not have my beautiful daughter without everyone at CFI.

We tried every other clinic, but their staff always left us in tears. We finally heard about CFI, and I scheduled an appointment without telling my husband because we had been disappointed so many times. But Dr. Y and his staff were truly wonderful. I was nervous when I saw Dr. Mesen once, but like Dr. Y, he was welcoming, easy to talk to, and took the time to make us feel like individuals rather than a "#" they were taking advantage of. I highly recommend CFI.

Wonderful experience and an excellent team of specialists. We would return and feel so fortunate to have our little baby!

We love CFI!

We love the doctors and staff here. They have always supported us. They are truly patient-centered and provide personalized care, and we will always be grateful that they helped us create our miracle. We highly recommend this clinic!

Thank you so much to CFI for everything they did to help my husband and me build our family!

We are so happy! Our dream came true. Special thanks to Dr. Garneau, who supported me from the beginning. It was certainly a challenging process, and we will always be grateful. I highly recommend them!

My experience at this clinic was terrible. My OB-GYN originally referred me to Dr. Mason, but I would not recommend this clinic to anyone. I work in healthcare and care for patients every day, but several doctors had terrible bedside manners. I was told I could be seen immediately, then waited in the lobby for more than 30 minutes for a scheduled procedure, only to be told it would not work. I was then taken back and waited another 20 minutes for the doctor. When I sincerely expressed frustration that my time had been wasted—I had taken time off work specifically for this—Dr. Gano told me I needed to see a psychiatrist. No, I value my job, whose salary makes infertility treatment possible, and I expect my doctors to value my time and communicate accordingly. We did not even complete the scheduled intrauterine insemination (IUI) because they washed away my husband's entire sample, yet they still billed both me and my insurance. I will not return and will recommend that anyone who asks go elsewhere. The key points basically describe a bad boyfriend... Lacks empathy Wastes your time Does not communicate Sends mixed signals Deceives you for your money Gaslights you and says you need treatment

We had the best experience! They went above and beyond, and we are very grateful for everything they did for us. Highly recommend CFI.

Dr. Garneau was excellent during my egg retrieval. She was very kind and knowledgeable and made me feel at ease throughout the process. I am very grateful for her attentive, professional care.

Dr. Garneau is one of the kindest people I have ever met!

If communication is important to you, this is definitely not the clinic for you. I am shocked that this clinic claims to have won numerous awards as an outstanding fertility clinic, because my spouse's and my experience was far from that. Infertility is already an exhausting process, and the CFI team's ongoing poor communication and lack of support made it worse. Over several months, I raised my concerns with multiple team members. They told me they would "talk to the team," but nothing changed. My in-clinic visits were usually good, but the conversations between appointments—which are essential if you know anything about fertility medicine—provided inconsistent and even contradictory information. One communication error nearly forced me to wait another cycle for IUI because they were unprepared. It caused tremendous distress, physical and emotional exhaustion, and wasted time, money, and a precious cycle. Honestly, I cannot wait to become pregnant so I no longer have to deal with CFI. We will never seek their help to have another child.

I cannot say enough good things about CFI! The entire staff is wonderful—friendly, welcoming, and genuinely caring. I felt supported throughout the process. Special thanks to Dr. Garneau. I highly recommend CFI to everyone!

Our experience with CFI throughout the pregnancy was excellent. We are very grateful to all the staff: doctors, nurses, and receptionists. Everyone was kind and helpful. Although our language barrier worried me, they were always willing to find a way to communicate with us. I especially thank Emma Hernández for her warm assistance throughout treatment. She served as our interpreter and was always ready to help with any questions. Without a doubt, she was an essential partner during our pregnancy. I strongly recommend this clinic to anyone who wants children.

Do not go here! DR. Mesen is the worst!! The office is clean, and the medical assistants and nurses are very kind and helpful. The doctor is extremely unprofessional and cold. Without performing appropriate testing, he rejected my wife based on his opinion, leaving her deeply hurt and discouraged. We sought a second opinion from another clinic with a female doctor. She performed the necessary tests and encouraged my wife, saying she was an excellent IVF candidate. Unlike Dr. Mesen, the second clinic treated my wife with respect and care. Dr. Mesen, please learn how to speak to people, even if you believe IVF is not possible.

My wife and I are extremely happy. This place made our dream a reality. Thank you, CFI.

I tried to edit my original review, but there was a technical problem with my Google account... I want to begin by saying that last week we celebrated the birth of our first son! We had previously experienced 3 miscarriages, and the past few years were very difficult. We are certainly grateful for our son and for CFI. There is no doubt he would not be here without their help. That said, my original review was 1 star, and it absolutely deserves to be revised from 1 to 3 stars. This journey is extremely emotional. For some people there are incredible lows and incredible highs. I believe we experienced the entire spectrum. Our overall outcome was ideal—a healthy, beautiful child—but on many occasions Dr. Y was very unfamiliar with our patient information and where we were in the specific process. My wife and I both work in healthcare and understand that everything begins with a basic chart review. My wife repeatedly corrected Dr. Y about the type of protocol she was following. We drove 4 hours and took days off to see him, yet he did not know our names or what was happening in our care plan, which was disturbing. Technology was the main problem. I had a very serious conversation with Dr. Y about these issues, considering that we had paid his company over $50,000 for what was, IMO, low-quality care and poor customer service. Afterward, he significantly improved the quality of care for our specific case. It was clear at our next appointment and Zoom call that he had reviewed the chart and was more professional and prepared. After I gave him strong feedback, he personally called us with test results. I hope this becomes the norm for all future patients. This may be the longest review here, but my wife and I believe families should know this information. Would I do it again? Yes—how could I say no? But this place was very difficult at times. God bless you all on your journey. I hope this helps.

I was Dr. Garneau's patient for about 10 months. During that time, I underwent septum surgery, IUI, miscarriage/D&C, egg retrieval, and multiple transfers, and now I am pregnant! Throughout everything, I felt extremely well cared for and supported. She is unquestionably the most compassionate doctor I have worked with. She spent substantial time explaining what we were doing at every step and why. She always let us ask as many questions as needed and gave thoughtful, thorough answers. She presented every option and never pressured us into anything that made us uncomfortable. Our appointments never felt rushed! My medical history is complex, and Dr. Garneau went above and beyond to accommodate and research interactions with my existing medical needs/medications, recommend the best protocol, and communicate directly with my other doctors. Her deep concern for patients was obvious from the beginning. Dr. Garneau made an almost unbearable process better, and we always looked forward to seeing her at appointments. I strongly recommend Dr. Garneau to everyone. We trust her completely and already look forward to working with her again for baby #2! We are fortunate to be in her care. The entire staff, from reception to the nurses, are wonderful. We truly felt they cared about us and never felt like a number. We worked closely with Nurse Christina and also felt her care and support. We are very grateful to CFI!

I am very surprised by all the negative reviews. My wife and I feel extremely fortunate to have found CFI and Dr. Garneau. We both have complex medical histories and have seen many doctors. Dr. Garneau is unquestionably the best and most caring doctor we have met. We felt very well cared for and knew they genuinely cared about us. She did an excellent job with our retrieval, and we are deeply grateful to her and the entire clinic. Highly recommended.

Dr. Garneau Channen and Nurse Shay always make me feel safe and genuinely cared for. Sometimes I arrive feeling overwhelmed but leave encouraged by their support. They listen sincerely, respond compassionately, and offer encouraging guidance. I am extremely grateful to have them beside me during this journey, which can feel isolating.

Please read the reviews before going. If I had, I would have avoided a great deal of trouble. This was the worst experience I have ever had at a doctor’s office, especially while already feeling vulnerable. I came only for a consultation about what the procedure would involve. Without my consent or any discussion of costs, they performed a vaginal ultrasound while the doctor mocked me for never having had one and not knowing what it was or why it was needed. No one called with the results. Instead, I received a bill for over $200 because insurance apparently did not cover all the tests they performed without discussing them with me. I have repeatedly tried to reach the finance department but get nowhere. Please do not go here!

On June 18, my partner had a first and so far only visit. We were told an MRI was needed, but a month later no order had been placed. Their office followed up repeatedly, trying to learn why the imaging order was not processed. This is extremely frustrating, inconsiderate, and unprofessional when serving a sensitive patient population under time pressure. 7/22 update: They called back saying they would place the order “again,” but asked the patient for a fax number. If you already sent it, why must the patient provide a fax number? Why are we faxing in 2024? If you believed the order was placed a month ago but had no results, why did you not follow up? 8/27 update: MRI results were received, but the clinic has not followed up for weeks. Although my partner and I likely will not seek additional care from this provider, the lack of post-MRI follow-up further supports our initial concerns. I hope others have a better experience.

I started at this clinic in 2021 after two unsuccessful clinics. I had heard great things about CFI, so we took the opportunity, especially because they accepted Progyny. The first appointment was months away, but meanwhile we did several IUIs at our current clinic and everything else we could, including diet, exercise, and supplements. The wait was awful but worthwhile. We loved NP Beverly. When our first retrieval produced only one good embryo and the transfer did not implant, she and Dr. Mesen reviewed my labs and ultrasounds for anything missed. They found no reason it failed; it was simply my body. We made small changes for a second retrieval and produced 4 good, tested embryos. We transferred one, and my son was born in April 2023. We are considering a second transfer early next year. The many negative reviews make me sad. Fertility medicine is not easy, and you must be especially diligent, but I am sorry others did not receive the care and attention they deserved. Insurance is the patient's responsibility, not the clinic's. I had to obtain all information from Progyny, including prior authorization. It is my insurance, and I was responsible for having everything ready before beginning or completing treatment. Some doctors, including Dr. Mesen, are direct, which does not suit everyone. Although he was our attending physician, we mainly worked with NP Beverly. We felt seen and heard, and she always responded. Sometimes we waited longer than I wanted, but at the time they had only one Charlotte location and the Winston-Salem location. They were very popular because they achieved good results. I had no billing problems until recently, when we received a collections bill without knowing what it was for and without any previous bill. It was completely shocking. I have not reached anyone at the clinic, but am trying to identify the charge before paying.

Terrible billing department. They sent us to collections while claiming they had not even tried billing insurance. A completely incompetent company.

This is literally the worst experience I have ever had with medical professionals. We began our journey in January 2024. The first red flag: we requested a female provider and were told this would be noted in our chart. It was not. A man tried to perform my transvaginal ultrasound. No thank you. Second red flag: my husband went for a semen analysis that insurance covered 100%. At checkout, they asked him for $180. He had just provided the sample, felt embarrassed and wanted to leave, so he did not want to draw more attention. We were told we would receive a full refund, but have not received a cent. Third red flag: it is now September, and we have only had an ultrasound. For months, we called and emailed their authorization department. We are stuck and cannot proceed without a response from this department. I asked to be transferred to someone at the desk, but no one answered. Emails went unanswered indefinitely. I asked for the manager, but she neither answered nor returned calls. After 8 months in this mess, we decided to change clinics. These people do not care about the sensitivity and emotions involved in family planning. Spare yourself and your family the pain and do not use this clinic. I am disgusted by their lack of empathy regarding time-sensitive medical procedures. Shameful.

Long, but here are my notes: They never answer the phone. There is no patient portal. Records are poorly maintained. Their prediction technology is Google's calculator. No payment plans. The payment link on their website is a scam; they double-bill you, then ghost you. They adjust appointments based on the “weather,” so you must drive there only for them to leave for lunch. Long waits. At my first visit, I waited 1.5 hours, then Dr. Y kept checking the time. The IVF doctor had not read my history. I do not know how anyone misses a brain tumor, but she called days later and changed the plan to require a high-risk consultation first, even though Dr. Y and all my doctors said it was unnecessary before pregnancy. She seemed nervous/inexperienced. My positive genetic carrier result was never discussed. *She continually rubbed her pregnant belly. I received conflicting information. During IUI, the NP said my blood had inflammatory markers, although this was never tested; that a cyst was leaking fluid into the tube, although the doctor said it was contained; and that the tube should be flushed again with HSG after 3 months, although the doctor said not to repeat it so soon. These are only some examples. Someone posted about patients being confused with one another, and I can confirm it. They scheduled my husband, said everything was fine, then hesitated and asked his date of birth because another patient had the same name and they had scheduled the wrong person. It was 1000% like throwing darts. The IVF doctor said she had only been asked whether she could consult with me when I arrived. I did not transfer to RSC only because I did not want to start over. The NP dismissed me when I asked about aspirin for endometriosis. I started taking it and conceived naturally the second month, while the cyst shrank from 6 cm to 2 cm. Remember, this is a for-profit business; they will take advantage.