See also: Reproductive Science Center

Re: Reproductive Endocrinologist covered by my insurance?
I saw Dr. Susan Willman at the Reproductive Science Center (offices in Orinda and San Ramon) for fertility. I highly recommend her as a doctor, advocate, and resource. I am a single soon-to-be mother and she was nothing but supportive. Although she works at a fertility clinic, she was listed as an in-network RE in my last 2 insurance networks. Perhaps she will be in yours. Feel free to email me with more specific questions if you wish. nm

Re: Considering IVF after repeated miscarriage
Hi, We've been doing IVF with Reproductive Science Center of the Bay area, and we have had a good experience (plain old unexplained fertility over here!) ... If you do decide to stay local, I highly recommend Dr Susan Willman at Reproductive Science Center in Orinda/San Ramon. She is very smart, caring and honest about the likelihood of success. I think she is also the director of PGD at RSC. Best of luck to you--M/c's are awful. Sarah

After two miscarriages and a few tests that have come back normal, my OB is recommending that I see a fertility specialist to see if they can find the cause of the miscarriages (I have one child born in 2006 with no intervention). I'm looking for comments and experiences (b/c the archives are several years out of date) specifically about: The Reproductive Science Center of the Bay Area (in Orinda/San Ramon) - which doctor should I try to see?

Re: Infertility over 44
I was 42 with my first and 45 with my second. My #s were such that donar eggs seemed like the only way. I, like you, did everything groovy; acupuncture, acupressure, years of herb drinks, clomid and oh yeah! sex and ovulation kits....first. I had a couple of possibly incompetent and certainly untalented fertility doctors before I lucked into Dr Susan Willman out in Orinda.

She did a series of plastic surgeries on my uterous, made it a good place to grow in and set me up with the egg brokers. (my words, not hers) That was an amazing process. I could write a lot about it but, in the end, we got a lovely woman who was the same chop suey mix that I am. She had the same hands, feet, coloring, texture, and general build as me. However, she had no history of insanity or anything except the occaisional alcoholic in her background, which, in my case was trading up.

So, while I felt a lot about having to have a donar egg, I also feel a lot of relief knowing that I am the only one genetically pre-disposed to senile dementia and paranoid delusions in our little family. As a mother, there is enough powerlessness!

Re: Infertility in our 40's
Infertility is extremely common for women in their 40s. I recommend going to a reproductive endocrinologist rather than a regular ob-gyn to find out what's going on and to discuss your options. I highly recommend Dr. Susan Willman at RSC in Orinda. She's very competent, compassionate, and a great communicator. anon

Re: local fertility specialist
I can highly recommend Dr. Susan Wilman of Reproductive Science Centers of the Bay Area at (925) 254-0444. She has an office in Orinda and Pleasanton. She was very caring, practical and gave you all the information you wanted about the processes you were considering. Her staff was always friendly and helpful. kate

Re: Fertility at age 39
I noticed someone recommended Susan Willman to you and I want to add my 2 cents:

She is great. I went through what you are now experiencing. I tried everything and crying, begging, many times with my HMO to change Doctors, I somehow finaly got with Susan Willman.

I don't want to bore you with what I had to live through to get there, and it was worth it. She did quite a lot of ''plastic surgery'' on my uterus, removing non-oxygen producing areas, making room, etc.....pronounced it ''beautiful'' and did IVF. I will say that she never gave me a ray of false hope and sometimes I wished she would not make it sound like such a long shot. I did 4 rounds before I got my son. He is perfect.

The second (IVF) pregnancy came & went easily and I have 2 perfect boys; 5 & 8 years old thanks to her.

I can not say enough good things about her. I have heard people get mad about this and that, the office / business end / her manner..... I can only praise her. Because when all is said and done, I have 2 perfect children after 7 years of trying everything and a lot of demoralizing incompetence from other Drs who have good local reputations.

I feel disloyal mentioning that there even was a negative side, but, we are so pumped up on hormones and hope and fear, frustration, sadness,....so much.....! How could there not be something? And what we have to do to pay for it? Another whole subject! But anyway, I just wanted to chime in and say that Susan Willman is a saint in my heart and I am eternally gratefull to her. She is a very talented reproductive endocrinologist as well as a uterus sculptor. She is great!

Re: Reproductive Specialist Recommendations?
You don't say where you are located. That will make a big difference, because if you end up doing any ''assisted'' reproduction, you are in the doctor's office/lab a lot for ultrasounds, blood work, etc. So if possible, find a great physician near to your home or workplace. If you are in Oakland or Lamorinda, I highly recommend Dr. Susan Willman of Reproductive Science Center in San Ramon and Orinda. She works out of Orinda, although some procedures are done in San Ramon because that facility is bigger. Our experience is not that recent (1999 through 2001) but she helped us through our fertility adventure with compassion, dedication, up-to-date knowledge of procedures and a nice dry sense of humor. We became pregnant three times under her care, although lost two of the pregnancies to miscarriage. However we now have 5-year-old twins and couldn't have asked for a better doctor than Dr. Willman. She repeatedly worked weekends on her own to do procedures, spent tons of time with us and also urged us to do one last assisted cycle after we had pretty much given up on the whole thing. That cycle produced our twins, and we are so glad we listened to her advice.

One piece of unsolicited advice, especially if you are 35 or older: do not delay your visit--see a reproductive endocrinologist like Dr. Willman as soon as possible. A regular OB/GYN, even one who ''specializes'' in infertility, is not good enough. You need an RE. Good Luck, It's All Worth It

My husband and I used Dr. Susan Wilman before she joined a group. She is now associated with a Fertility Group in San Ramon. She has an office in Orinda. We can't say enough about her and would highly recommend her. She is very compasionate, while still being straight forward. We have a beautiful little girl! But it did take us a few years. Good luck anon

Re: Weckstein or Willman?

I'm a former patient of Dr. Willman's -- she's in the same practice with Dr. Weckstein, with whom I have had no experience. We have a 2-year-old (via IVF and a surgical miracle performed by Dr. Willman) and #2 is due in early November -- a natural conception supported in the dicey early weeks by Dr. Willman and her staff. The reason I'm writing is that I DO recommend Dr. Willman, but also because I think your post revealed a misconception about what fertility treatment should be. Dr. Willman will look at your case in a very specific-to-you way. She will first listen to what you've tried and where you've been with self-treatment or OBGYN treatment, and then recommend further tests. If IVF is not indicated based on a combination of your age/FSH level/results of other hormonal and physical/anatomic tests (i.e. the hysterosalpingogram) then she'll work with you on a strategy that doesn't include IVF. However, she's a very straight shooter, and knows probably as well as any of us the devestating effects of months and months of unsuccessful IUI's/clomid/accupuncture/temperature taking/sperm-count-boosting/antibodies & blood-type checking, etc. has on a couple. I feel sure that if she doesn't think these things are going to work in your case, and she thinks that IVF does have a reasonable chance of succeeding, that she'll tell you just that. I think you need to prepare yourself for that possibility with any doctor who is your partner in fertility treatment, and not go into it thinking that if he/she recommends IVF right away that there's something wrong with the way the doctor is treating you.

In our case, my infertility was ''unexplained'' (and happily, my sudden fertility in the case of #2 is also ''unexplained''). Our indicators were such that Dr. Willman recommended a couple rounds IUI/Clomid first. Then, we went to injectables with IUI, presumably to save money, but against her repeated recommendations based on the clinical outcomes of the previous cycles. (She was saying our best option was to cut to the chase with an IVF.) Finally, after the 8th unsuccessful IUI, we took the advice Dr. Willman had given us after our 3rd IUI, and did IVF. We had excellent results, 12 viable eggs, 9 viable embryos. Four were transferred and two took (but one was ectopic -- see reference above to the surgical miracle performed by Dr. Willman). Our daughter came after 4 years of increasing depression and unromantically timed intercourse. I don't know the specific clinical details of your infertility issues, so IUI's or other treatment might very well be indicated and successful in your case. But I can say with confidence that Dr. Willman is focused on treating individual women/men so that fertilization and implantation do occur, and supporting them well in early pregnancy (this is where I experienced her warmth most -- she truly becomes excited with you!) -- as opposed to being focused on signing you up for their most expensive and invasive proceedures. Infertility ...can I say ''sucks'' on this board?... and many of us want to blame the doctors because there is almost nobody else to lash out at. But I'd say if you forge what you feel is an honest relationship with your doctor, you then need to trust what they're telling you. Warm wishes and best of luck in your search for a doctor that you feel comfortable with, and the subsequent course of treatment. anon

We've been trying for our second child for some time now, and were just referred to either Dr. Willman or Dr. Chetkowski. I've checked the recommendations on the website, but since the most recent were in 2001, I was hoping to get more current information. Any recommendations for either, positive or negative experiences, would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.rscbayarea.com/index.html

I think she is the main doctor at the Orinda office. Anyway, when I finally did get pregnant, she gave me this great big hug! We were very impressed with that! Oh, she always returns phone calls herself and you will find that this is very important when dealing with infertility Anon

regarding "OB/GYN Dr. and miscarriages" ...
From everything you wrote, it sounds like you'd love Dr. Susan Willman. She's an infertility doctor, but great in every way you ask. Analytical, very smart, thoroughly discusses alternatives and what they mean, etc. Karen

Fertility Doctor in the East Bay Dr. Susan Willman in Orinda was excellent - very nice, smart, competent. She takes the time to explain and is not put off by your questions. She is also open to going at your pace, but was frank with her opinion. 925 - 254-0444. Megan

I had several IUIs with Dr. Willman shortly after [my experience with Dr. Chetkowski]. She never had to dilate me, and the procedures were painless and caused no bleeding. They were so quick, they were often over before I knew it. I also did get pregnant with one IUI (though I later miscarried, and ended up having IVF, which was successful.)

We are now seeing Dr. Willman again, trying to have a second child.

Karen

As for infertility work, I used Dr. Susan Willman (she was in Orinda at the time and may still be.) She also is very knowledgeable, sensitive, professional and takes time to connect with the parents. I have the sense that the rest of the doctors at East Bay are better during pregnancy than during the awful, uncertain times of infertility work. BTW, Dr. Willman was the fifth doctor that I went to and the only way that really seemed to know what she was doing!