Carolinas Fertility Institute (CFI) operates its Winston-Salem clinic at 3821 Forrestgate Drive, serving patients across the Piedmont Triad and western North Carolina. Founded by Dr. Tamer Yalcinkaya — a nationally recognized reproductive endocrinologist — CFI has grown since its 2015 opening in Winston-Salem into one of the most expansive fertility networks in the state, with eight locations stretching from Asheville to Wilmington. For Triad-area patients in Forsyth, Guilford, and surrounding counties, the Winston-Salem office provides convenient access to full-service reproductive medicine without a lengthy drive to a major academic center. The clinic holds SART membership, AIUM accreditation for ultrasound services, and is one of only a small number of U.S. programs to operate both EmbryoScope and LifeAire air-purification technology in its IVF laboratory.
Physicians and Clinical Team
Tamer Yalcinkaya, MD — Founder and Medical Director of Carolinas Fertility Institute, Dr. Yalcinkaya is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist with more than 24 years of REI experience. He earned his medical degree from Istanbul University's Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, completed his OB/GYN residency at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (Harlem Hospital Center, New York), and pursued his REI fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Before founding CFI, he served for nine years as Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, where he also trained more than 100 OB/GYN specialists. His research output includes 27 peer-reviewed publications and numerous presentations at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) annual meetings. His clinical focus areas include endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, and congenital reproductive tract anomalies. Dr. Yalcinkaya has received the Castle Connolly Top Doctor designation, placing him in the top 7% of U.S. physicians as determined by peer nomination and independent vetting.
Tolga Mesen, MD — Board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Dr. Mesen received his MD from Wake Forest University School of Medicine before completing an OB/GYN residency (including a chief resident year) at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He then trained in REI at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, finishing his fellowship in 2015. His subspecialty interests include IVF, fertility preservation, and minimally invasive reproductive surgery. Dr. Mesen, who developed his clinical interest in REI as a medical student under Dr. Yalcinkaya, also holds the Castle Connolly Top Doctor distinction.
Marlane Angle, MD — Laboratory Director overseeing the CFI embryology program.
Hooman Sadri, MD — Male reproductive medicine specialist supporting the andrology program across CFI locations, including semen analysis and male-factor evaluation.
The clinical team is supported by dedicated IVF coordinators, embryologists, sonographers, and counseling staff at each site.
Services and Treatments
Carolinas Fertility Institute in Winston-Salem offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic services:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) — conventional and natural/minimal stimulation protocols
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) — for mild male-factor, cervical-factor, and unexplained infertility
- Ovulation Induction — oral and injectable protocols for anovulatory cycles
- Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) — elective fertility preservation and medically indicated cases
- Embryo Cryopreservation — vitrification-based freezing for surplus embryos
- Donor Egg IVF — fresh and frozen donor oocyte cycles
- Donor Embryo Adoption — embryo transfer using donated cryopreserved embryos
- Gestational Carrier Services — surrogacy coordination and medical management
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A / PGT-M) — aneuploidy screening and monogenic disease testing
- Andrology and Semen Analysis — comprehensive male-factor diagnostics
- Da Vinci Robotic Surgery — minimally invasive laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures for conditions affecting fertility
- Endometriosis and Fibroid Management — surgical and medical treatment
- PCOS and Hormonal Disorder Evaluation
- Counseling Services — integrated mental health support throughout treatment
- Genetic Counseling Referrals
Laboratory and Success Rates
The Winston-Salem embryology laboratory is equipped with EmbryoScope time-lapse imaging technology, which allows embryologists to monitor embryo development continuously without removing embryos from the incubator for observation — a feature associated with more consistent culture conditions and improved embryo selection. CFI is also recognized as a LifeAire Center of Excellence, a distinction reserved for clinics that install the LifeAire HEPA-grade air purification system in their IVF labs. Volatile organic compounds, airborne particulates, and microbial contaminants can adversely affect embryo development; the LifeAire system addresses this risk. CFI reports some of the highest IVF success rates in North Carolina and has been ranked among the top fertility programs nationally.
As a SART member clinic, CFI is required to report all assisted reproductive technology cycle outcomes annually. Prospective patients can review clinic-specific, age-stratified success data — including live birth rates per transfer for fresh and frozen embryo cycles — through the SART online reporting system. Independent data are also available through the CDC's annual ART Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report. When comparing success rates across clinics, patients should account for differences in patient age distribution and the proportion of high-complexity cases transferred at each program.
Patient Experience
Patients at the Winston-Salem clinic frequently cite the staff's empathetic approach as a distinguishing characteristic of the practice. Reviews on multiple platforms describe coordinators and nurses who are "kind and compassionate," and who help make "the process of overcoming infertility less stressful." Dr. Yalcinkaya in particular is noted for making patients feel like "priority number one," with a team described as going "above and beyond." The clinic's finance and insurance staff receive consistent praise for explaining benefit structures clearly and helping patients understand their out-of-pocket exposure before treatment begins.
The Winston-Salem office handles new patient consultations, full diagnostic workups, monitoring visits, and procedures including IUI and egg retrievals. Complex cases and surgical procedures may be coordinated across CFI locations depending on scheduling and specialist availability. A patient portal (accessible via patient.artisancw.com) supports appointment management, lab results, and secure messaging. CFI also operates a community group — CFI Moms and Supporters — providing peer connection among patients going through treatment.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. At-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is a lower-cost, private option that suits patients with no known fertility diagnosis — including single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and people who want to try a few cycles before committing to clinical treatment.
At-home insemination kits like those from MakeAMom come with step-by-step instructions designed for donor or partner sperm. Kits are a one-time purchase that can be reused until conception succeeds, require no clinic visit, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use them as a first step while working toward a fertility consultation — or alongside ovulation tracking while they wait for an appointment slot.
If you have a known fertility diagnosis, have been trying for 12 months without success (six months if you're over 35), or your physician has already recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.
Insurance and Financing
North Carolina does not have a state law mandating that insurance carriers cover IVF or the full spectrum of infertility treatments. As a result, coverage varies considerably by employer plan and carrier. Some self-funded employer plans — particularly those offered by large corporations or public-sector employers — do include fertility benefits, and patients are encouraged to contact their benefits administrator before a consultation to understand what diagnostic and treatment services may be covered. Diagnostic testing (bloodwork, semen analysis, ultrasound) is more commonly reimbursed than treatment cycles.
CFI has developed a competitive fee schedule and offers several financing pathways for patients managing out-of-pocket costs:
- PatientFi — monthly installment plans for fertility care
- Future Family — financing that covers both treatment and medication costs
- LendingClub — fixed-rate personal loans with an online application process
- CFI Promise Program — the clinic's own multi-cycle program designed to improve value and reduce financial risk
Patients should request an itemized cost estimate at their new patient consultation. The finance coordinator team can help identify applicable insurance benefits and structure a payment approach before treatment begins. For a broader look at fertility clinics in North Carolina, including coverage considerations across the state, see our North Carolina clinic directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the address and contact number for CFI's Winston-Salem office? The Winston-Salem clinic is located at 3821 Forrestgate Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. The main phone number is 336-448-9100.
Does Carolinas Fertility Institute report to SART? Yes. CFI is a SART-member clinic and submits annual cycle outcome data to the registry. Patients can access multi-year success rate data broken down by age group and procedure type on the SART website. Reviewing this data alongside a physician consultation is the best way to contextualize expected outcomes for your specific situation.
What should I expect at my first appointment? A new patient consultation at CFI typically includes a review of medical and reproductive history, baseline bloodwork (including ovarian reserve testing such as AMH and antral follicle count), and a pelvic ultrasound. Male partners usually provide a semen sample for analysis at or before the first visit. The physician will then discuss a personalized diagnostic and treatment plan. Patients interested in learning more about IVF treatment before their first visit can review our IVF guide for a detailed overview of what the process involves.
Does CFI offer fertility preservation for non-medical reasons? Yes. Elective egg freezing (social egg freezing) is available at CFI. The process uses the same controlled ovarian stimulation and oocyte cryopreservation protocol as IVF egg retrieval. Dr. Yalcinkaya's team can advise on timing, expected egg yield based on ovarian reserve testing, and long-term storage options during an initial consultation.