Mid Iowa Fertility — An Honest Editorial Review

Clive is a first-ring suburb on the western edge of Des Moines, reachable from virtually anywhere in the metro within 20 to 30 minutes. That location matters for a fertility clinic: patients undergoing an IVF stimulation cycle face frequent monitoring appointments — often daily ultrasounds and blood draws — and a clinic sited for easy access from the Interstate 35/80 corridor serves central Iowa's geography well. Mid Iowa Fertility, operating from its address at 1371 NW 121st Street in Clive, has been the state's only full-service, free-standing fertility center for most of its history. It was founded in 1993 by Dr. Donald Young and has grown over three decades into a practice serving patients from Des Moines and its suburbs as well as from smaller Iowa cities where no reproductive endocrinologist is available closer to home. The clinic holds a Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center+ designation for fertility care — a recognition that requires meeting quality and outcomes benchmarks specific to assisted reproduction. Patient reviews across platforms are broadly positive, with a Google rating in the 4.5-star range based on nearly 200 reviews, reflecting a practice where patients consistently cite compassionate staff and knowledgeable physicians. In late 2025, Mid Iowa Fertility announced a formal partnership with IVI RMA North America, one of the largest fertility networks in the world, expanding its access to research, training resources, and laboratory expertise while retaining local physician leadership and its independent identity.

Physicians and Clinical Team

Mid Iowa Fertility operates with three board-certified reproductive endocrinologists and infertility (REI) specialists, representing more than 40 combined years of clinical experience. All three hold dual board certifications in Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and each carries the F.A.C.O.G. credential — Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Donald C. Young, D.O., F.A.C.O.G. — Dr. Young is the founder and Medical Director of Mid Iowa Fertility, a role he has held since establishing the practice in 1993. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Drake University in 1981 and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University in 1985. He completed his internship at the University of Iowa, followed by an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at David Grant USAF Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in California, finishing in 1989. Dr. Young subsequently completed his training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and holds board certification in both specialties. His career-long focus on individualized fertility care — matched to each patient's diagnostic picture rather than a one-size protocol — is the foundational philosophy the clinic still operates under.

Brian C. Cooper, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. — Dr. Cooper joined Mid Iowa Fertility in 2006 and has been a central part of the clinical team since. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan in 1994, then completed his medical degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1999, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class. His Obstetrics and Gynecology residency was completed at the University of Iowa, and he pursued a formal fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont — the standard pathway for subspecialty certification in REI. Dr. Cooper is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both his primary specialty and in REI.

Trenton Place, D.O., F.A.C.O.G. — Dr. Place joined the practice in the summer of 2022, bringing with him an unusually broad scientific background. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Iowa, then completed a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology — also at the University of Iowa — before earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He returned to the University of Iowa for his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency, where he received recognition for his dedication to patient care and excellence as a laparoscopic surgeon. He is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. His research background in molecular biology is a meaningful asset in a practice that offers genetic testing of embryos and stays current with evolving laboratory science.

Services and Treatments

Mid Iowa Fertility offers a comprehensive range of fertility diagnostics and treatments, performing the majority of services in-office to minimize the logistical burden on patients. Surgical procedures are performed at partner facilities — Lakeview Surgery Center and West Lakes Surgery Center in West Des Moines — both within easy reach of the Clive clinic.

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) — The practice's primary assisted reproductive technology offering, including conventional fertilization and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) for male-factor cases
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) — A first-line treatment for mild male factor, ovulatory dysfunction, unexplained infertility, and patients using donor sperm
• Egg Cryopreservation (Egg Freezing) — Available for elective fertility preservation and for patients facing medical treatments that may affect future fertility
• Embryo Cryopreservation — Remaining viable embryos after a retrieval cycle are frozen for future frozen embryo transfers (FET)
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A / PGD) — Embryo biopsy and chromosomal screening before transfer to reduce miscarriage risk and improve implantation rates; also available for known single-gene disorders
• Egg Donor Program — A recipient program for patients who require donor oocytes due to diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, or genetic considerations
• Tubal Reversal Surgery — Microsurgical reversal of prior tubal ligation for patients seeking to restore natural fertility
• Laparoscopy — Minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic surgery to evaluate and treat pelvic conditions including tubal disease and endometriosis, typically with a 1–2 day recovery
• Hysteroscopy — Outpatient uterine evaluation and treatment, most commonly for polyps or intrauterine scar tissue, with most patients returning to work the next day
• Diagnostic Fertility Workup — Comprehensive evaluation including hormonal blood work, ovarian reserve testing, semen analysis, and imaging

For a full explanation of what to expect at each stage of an IVF cycle, see our IVF guide.

Laboratory and Success Rates

Mid Iowa Fertility operates an on-site IVF laboratory described as state-of-the-art — one of the features that supports its positioning as central Iowa's only full-service fertility center. The lab handles sperm preparation using a three-step gradient sperm wash to optimize motility, supports both conventional insemination and ICSI fertilization, and cultures embryos through the day-5 blastocyst stage. Embryo biopsies for PGT-A and PGD can be performed in-house before embryos are sent to a reference genetics laboratory for analysis. Vitrification (rapid-freezing) is used for embryo cryopreservation, which has become the standard of care for preserving embryo viability.

The clinic's 2025 partnership with IVI RMA North America connects the Mid Iowa lab team to one of the largest reproductive medicine research and clinical networks globally, with implications for protocol development, lab quality benchmarking, and training resources.

Mid Iowa Fertility reports its IVF outcomes to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SART publishes annual clinic-specific success rate summaries; because patient populations differ significantly between clinics, SART explicitly advises against using its data for direct clinic-to-clinic comparisons. To review the clinic's most recent reported outcomes, visit the SART Clinic Summary Report for Mid Iowa Fertility or the CDC ART Success Rates database, which publishes its own national dataset annually.

Patient Experience

Several features of the Mid Iowa Fertility model improve the day-to-day experience of going through treatment. The clinic handles most services on-site, which reduces the number of external appointments patients need to coordinate. For patients traveling from smaller Iowa communities, the clinic has a partnership rate of $89 per night at a nearby Country Inn and Suites, an accommodation detail that signals awareness of how far some patients are commuting. The practice has also historically offered weekend availability for IUI and IVF monitoring, which eases the conflict between treatment schedules and work or childcare obligations — though patients should confirm current weekend hours, as the clinic recently moved to a weekday-only Sunday closure policy.

Patient reviews on Google and third-party platforms tend to cluster around a few consistent themes: a clinical team that takes diagnosis and treatment planning seriously, nurses who communicate clearly during the more stressful phases of a cycle, and physicians who are genuinely accessible. Positive reviews frequently name the medical staff by name and describe the kind of attentiveness that makes a difficult process feel less isolating. The financial team draws specific praise, particularly for helping patients navigate insurance benefits and identify medication discount programs. As with any high-volume specialty practice, administrative experiences are more variable — some reviews note difficulty with scheduling responsiveness — and patients with complex cases should ask directly about communication protocols at their initial consultation.

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

Iowa does not have a state law requiring health insurers to cover infertility treatments or IVF. That means most patients are operating under whatever fertility benefits their employer has chosen to include — which varies widely — or are self-pay. Patients are encouraged to contact their insurer before their first appointment, and the clinic provides an insurance questionnaire to guide those conversations. Prior authorization for treatment can take up to 30 days, so initiating the process early matters.

For patients who need to finance some or all of their treatment costs, Mid Iowa Fertility works with two lending partners: PatientFi, which offers monthly payment plans for fertility treatment costs, and GreenState Credit Union, which offers fixed-rate financing including 0% interest six-month loans for qualified applicants. The University of Iowa Credit Union is also listed as a payment plan option. Medications represent a significant cost center in most IVF cycles; the clinic partners with Fertility Pharmacy of America for competitive medication pricing with home delivery, and the financial team works to connect eligible patients with manufacturer assistance programs that can reduce out-of-pocket drug costs substantially.

The clinic's financial specialist, Whitney Shipman, is the primary point of contact for cost estimates, insurance questions, and financing applications. Initial physician consultation fees for self-pay patients typically run $175–$275.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mid Iowa Fertility accept my insurance? Iowa law does not require insurers to cover fertility treatment, so coverage depends entirely on your specific plan. The clinic's financial team can review your benefits with you and help determine what is covered before you begin treatment. Call ahead or use the insurance questionnaire available on the clinic's website to prepare for that conversation.

How long does an IVF cycle take at Mid Iowa Fertility? A standard IVF stimulation cycle runs approximately 10–14 days of hormone injections with monitoring appointments every 1–3 days, followed by an egg retrieval procedure. If a fresh embryo transfer is planned, it occurs 3–5 days after retrieval. Many patients opt for a freeze-all approach, transferring embryos in a subsequent frozen embryo transfer cycle that begins the following month. The full process from consultation to pregnancy test is typically 2–3 months.

What makes Mid Iowa Fertility different from other Iowa fertility options? Mid Iowa Fertility is the only full-service, free-standing fertility center in central Iowa, with an on-site IVF laboratory and three fellowship-trained REIs. Its Wellmark Blue Distinction Center+ designation reflects quality benchmarking specific to fertility programs. The practice also recently partnered with IVI RMA North America, connecting it to international research and laboratory quality standards while maintaining its local physician team. For a broader look at options across the state, see our guide to fertility clinics in Iowa.

Can patients from outside Des Moines be treated at Mid Iowa Fertility? Yes. The clinic actively serves patients from across Iowa and has logistical support in place for out-of-town patients, including a negotiated hotel rate at a nearby property. Monitoring appointments during a stimulation cycle are frequent, so patients traveling significant distances should discuss the monitoring schedule — including whether any early cycle bloodwork or ultrasounds can be done locally — at their initial consultation.