Berkeley Parents Network: Kaiser Fertility Specialists

Berkeley Parents Network

Kaiser Fertility Specialists

The Parents Network > Reviews > Health & Medical > Kaiser Doctors > Kaiser Fertility Specialists

April 2002

Does anyone have any recent experience with the Infertility Clinic at Kaiser Oakland? I've just been referred to them from my Kaiser Ob/Gyn and am wondering what to expect. Do they do all of the same procedures as private clinics? Are they supportive? Any feedback you can give is great! Thanks, Heather

My experience at Kaiser Oakland was 3 yrs ago. Kaiser's limits in infertility treatments do not extend to ivf, though they do include treatments by a reproductive endocrinologist. They offered artificial insemination, clomid, etc and assisted ovulation, I think it's called (where you take drugs to increase ovulation, and the size & # of eggs are followed until ovulation is triggered by an hcg shot). We were not impressed with our Dr. at the time (Dr. Lee, who I think has moved on) nor was it a supportive environment, to say the least. We also had a difficult time getting all of the testing done in a timely matter, though maybe that was the doctor. In all fairness, though, Kaiser really can't afford to offer the one-on-one care that expensive clinics offer. janet

We conceived Fall 2001 after navigating Kaiser Oakland. They do not do ivf. They do provide fertility drugs and iui. They also now offer a monthly support group. We saw Janie Hirada. I charted my temperature on chlomid and she responded by halving my dose. She was willing to try this when standard is to double it. My familiarity w/ my cycle and luteal phase was key. W/ Kaiser it is essential to do your research (Resolve is a good resource) and be your own advocate. The worst thing about it from my perspective which isn't necessarily different from a practice is having to go to a sperm lab by alta bates and drive across town w/ your precious cargo; and then sometimes wait a long time for your appointment at Kaiser. Also you get the iui appointment w/ whichever practioner is available when you ovulate so I found it alienating and even a bit traumatic to see a different person for successive inseminations. The last and successful time we prepared for it mentally (the drive across town will take longer than we think; there will be no parking; we will wait in the waiting room a long time. We brought a book we love and my husband read to me while we waited before and after the procedure) and it was even a 'nice' experience. Once you are pregnant they take incredible care w/ you, monitoring your hsg closely until it reaches a certain number; providing early ultrasound to rule out ectopic pregnancy. anonymous

I was referred to Dr. Hirata at Kaiser in the summer of 2000, after trying to conceive for about 6 months. She started with blood tests (and semen check for my partner) which were helpful,as my thyroid level was low (besides helping to regulate the other hormones, thyroid is important to have at the correct level during pregnancy). I had done some reading and was losing weight towards what I felt was more balanced, which she approved (one study showed even 6 pounds gained or lost towards a balanced weight has a huge fertility impact). I had been charting my temperature carefully but she did not look at it.

After a few months I went back and was offered an HSG (checks the fallopian tubes by shooting a dye through and watching its progress) and clomid. I declined both. I had blood draws to check hormone levels, and an ultrasound of the ovaries. I went to a midwife practice for a fertility consult at this point and got a lot more info and reassurance. The midwife recommended I read about the use of clomid---it can have severe side effects, one of which is drying up fertile mucus which has to be there to provide a ladder for sperm. At Kaiser there had been no mention of side effects.

I agreed to the HSG after another month or so. The HSG was ok, not painful, just strange. I felt quite strongly pressured to go with the clomid. One nurse during a call told me I wasn't ovulating, (I knew I was from my charts), and that I would never get pregnant without clomid, leaving me in tears after I hung up. I stuck to my resolve to avoid invasive measures at that point.

I conceived during the cycle after the HSG (this is somewhat common, according to Dr. Hirata) and my daughter was born in July 2001. I was glad for the help in finding the thyroid deficiency and the HSG procedure, but I was quite upset and stressed by the pressure (especially from the fertility nurses) to take clomid. The month by month hopefulness and disappointment is soooo hard, and the midwife consult helped in a way that the Kaiser clinic did not.

I would recommend keeping yourself well informed and visiting a midwife practice too. A book I found that is long but very informative and compassionately politicized about fertility issues is Beyond Second Opinions: Making Choices About Fertility Treatment by Judith Steinberg Turiel. I wish you the best of luck! anonymous

I know you were curious about the services at Kaiser Oakland, but can I offer an alternate recommendation if you find you do not get a good response or do not like the services there? I saw Dr. Feigenbaum at Kaiser SF and found him to be very direct and candid about my issues with infertility. He did not pull any punches, but I like that in a doctor. Kaiser SF also has some state of the art equipment for infertility diagnosis and treatment. If you ask your OB, he/she should be able to send you there.

You may already know about this, but you can also post on the INCIID website for recommendations about Kaiser Oakland or others' experience. It is also nice to get some support for yourself. I was lucky in that 3 of my close friends were going through the same thing (we all have babies now) and my experience has been that infertility is too traumatic to try and handle on your own. Best to find people who understand what you are going through and won't just tell you to 'relax' or 'stop trying and you'll get pregnant.' I wish you lots of luck, and all of us with infertility issues are thinking of you! Please feel free to contact me with any questions. kmmills

I worked with Dr. Janie Hirata at Oakland. I was disapointed in her communication style but, in the end, felt she was very responsive to what I wanted to do. I did not feel good about the guidance I got from her so I took some extra time to get as much information as I could on my own - I talked to people who had used fertility treatments and most importantly I joined a group called Resolve. (www.resolve.com) They had (and maybe still do) a monthly evening group where a fertility MD came to answer questions. I went three times and from there decided how I wanted to proceed. I presented a plan to Hirata and she agreed to the whole thing. I did get very lucky and got pregnant the first time so I did not have a lengthy experience with her and her coordinating nurse. Another fertility MD who has much less availability is Brenamen. From what I have heard, she is excellent. There is also an MD, Dr. Fiegenbaum I believe, at SF Kaiser who is also excellent.

If you are working with Dr. Hirata and her RN, ask lots of questions. This all is so routine for them it seems like they forget that it is new for the patients and sometimes don't explain things as thoroughly as they could. Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss my experience. Good luch to you. Elizabeth

I have experience from 7 yrs ago. I went to an outside clinic w/my own $ for a 2nd opinion. Glad I did that, the unintended but definitely fortuitous result was that Kaiser did the diagnostic testing, and treatments (unsuccessful) for a number of cycles. When Kaiser said I was not a good candidate I went straight to the outside doctor and was pregnant the next cycle. Anon

Sept. 2000

In response to the fertility specialist question posted below. I can recommend Dr. L. Darlene Lanka of Kaiser Walnut Creek. She is not only a fantastic OB-GYN/surgeon & remarkable person (voted "Best of the East Bay by Diablo Magazine"), she co-authored a book titled "Perimenopause", She is one of Kaiser's fertility specialists and has a special interest in diabetes (her daughter had childhood onset diabetes). She is a UC Berkeley undergrad and a UCSF Medical School grad. She may not be taking new patients, but if you pester Kaiser enough you may get in to see her. She's definitely worth a try. Nancy

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