NYU Langone Reproductive Specialists of New York - Brooklyn, Amerika Serikat

This clinic feels like an assembly line and is highly unprofessional, with extremely rude front-desk staff. They only offer appointments from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and require everyone to give two days' notice for a visit. They call repeatedly, but if you miss the call, it is difficult to reach them again because calls are routed to a central NYU call center that is not even in New York, so the agents do not know any staff members' names. They also leave messages in messaging systems that provide no notifications and do not allow replies. Overall, this was a very poor healthcare experience. I recommend finding a private clinic that provides more personalized care.

My experience at this clinic was terrible. The finance team called constantly, which felt more like harassment than support. The nurses sent medication instructions only one day before I was due to start them, which was highly unprofessional. For services costing $10,000–$15,000, this level of communication and care is unacceptable. Instead of respecting patients, they make you feel like just another case and as though they are doing you a favor.

I went to NYU for donor-egg IVF and was told that Dr. Saketos on Long Island would manage my case, while I would see Dr. Dondik in BK weekly. After nearly a year of treatment, I was deeply disappointed by the care, the complete lack of communication, and the dismissive attitude. My diagnosis was complex and rare, including a thin endometrium. Looking back, I am not sure Dr. Saketos knew how to treat it. Instead of acknowledging this or encouraging me to see someone more familiar with my diagnosis, she repeatedly tried the same medications without progress. Whenever I asked her or Dr. Dondik about a biopsy or another approach, they said it was not yet time. As I became increasingly frustrated, I contacted the doctors by phone and email but rarely received a response. Be aware that communication at this clinic is terrible. You can never reach anyone directly; every call goes through a messaging service, which is a nightmare given the time-sensitive nature of IVF. In short, my questions and requests for a new treatment plan were ignored, and I felt my doctors no longer believed I could succeed or truly cared about my treatment. The final straw was a routine appointment when Dr. Dondik arrived 15 minutes late and said she had no time to answer any questions because other patients were waiting. I walked out and never returned. When I emailed Dr. Saketos to say I was seeking treatment elsewhere, her reply was about something entirely different, showing she had not even read my email. It was also the first time she had replied to one of my emails. I transferred my care to a small Manhattan clinic and became pregnant 6 months later with a completely new protocol. My new doctor was very confused about why NYU had kept me on the previous protocol for so long when it clearly was not working. I know I should have changed sooner, but IVF is a business, and it takes time to accept that many clinics see you only as a woman desperate to have a child and want to keep you there as long as possible. Many women undergoing IVF who feel like just a number will relate. I know this review is harsh, but it is sincere. Not succeeding at NYU would have been one thing, but their dismissive and indifferent treatment needed to be shared. IVF is hard enough, and I deserved better care. I am grateful I finally found the courage to leave and seek help from doctors willing to give me a chance at motherhood; otherwise, I might never have had my beautiful daughter.

The treatment plan was not tailored to my specific needs. Communication was poor. I ultimately completed 3 cycles without success.

I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Fritz and the entire NYU team. All the staff were lovely, and every doctor I saw made me feel comfortable throughout the process. Special thanks to Elena for being so supportive during every visit and keeping the office running so smoothly. After 2 cycles and 1 good embryo, we ultimately conceived naturally while waiting for a transfer the following month. If we decide to have baby number two, I will definitely return.

I met Dr. Dondik for an initial consultation in June 2023. She was very nice and had an excellent bedside manner. However, I learned that egg freezing and IVF procedures were not performed in Brooklyn but in Mineola, Long Island. I had to wait two months for a telehealth follow-up to review my fertility test results. I waited more than 30 minutes for her to log in, and my blood test results were never uploaded to the portal. The portal is cumbersome and lets you receive messages but not send them, so electronic communication requires violating patient privacy laws. At my request, she ordered an MRI in late August to confirm the diagnosis, which ultimately made the $16K procedure eligible for coverage. I had the MRI that same week. Another month passed, and despite several emails to multiple staff members, no one responded about the MRI results or insurance authorization. I finally received a call from Shandel on September 23, 3 days before my coverage ended as I transitioned to COBRA. She was helpful and compassionate and confirmed that the procedure would be covered based on my diagnosis. I was told the authorization would be obtained and emailed to me and would remain valid for 10 years or as long as I used COBRA. I never received it. I called again on September 25 and was told I would receive a call back. It is now September 27, the last day of coverage, and I still have neither the authorization nor a response. I was placed on hold for 30 minutes only to speak with the first person who had told me I would not be covered, even after Shandel confirmed that my clinical diagnosis qualified. They could not confirm or even access the authorization in my file. Despite this, they refused to provide Shandel's email address. I originally planned to freeze my eggs during the summer, when I had enough time and before my insurance changed, but the office's inefficiency delayed this by 3 months. As a healthcare professional and small-business owner, it is difficult to find time for my own appointments, let alone egg freezing, which requires multiple appointments over two weeks, medication injections and their side effects, and surgery in Mineola. Delaying the procedure was also stressful as a 34-year-old woman whose fertility is rapidly declining. Other issues: 1. The IVF webinar was taught by a man who made sexist jokes about emotions and hormones and created fear by comparing the ovaries to water balloons that could burst if you bent over. I had to schedule another appointment with Dr. Dondik, who clarified that this was exaggerated. I also learned the BK office is closed on weekends, so weekend monitoring appointments are also in Mineola. 2. January—I had to send several emails to get the medication ordered. Because we were so close, I chose to proceed again. 3. February—I called during office hours to schedule the start of my cycle and was supposed to receive a call back about whether to come the next day or the day after. No one called. I even left an urgent message with the answering service and was told I would hear back by the next morning so I would know whether to come in, but again heard nothing. 4. I provided the pharmacy information twice. The nurse forgot what I told them at 8 a.m. and sent a portal message at noon, which I did not see because I was with my own patients. The nurse left at 2:30, so my medication was not called in. I called after work at 4:45 p.m. and was told they would contact the nurse to submit it immediately. No return call. I called again after 6 and was still waiting. The medication I was supposed to start at 6:45 that evening had not been called in. 5. A nurse once gave me the wrong medication name and incorrect instructions. Pros: Dr. Dondik was wonderful throughout—very reassuring and thoughtful. The phlebotomists were also excellent, and I looked forward to seeing them during morning visits. Nurse Sarah in the operating room was also kind!