Monica Hannon, MD & Ziyad Hannon, MD — An Honest Editorial Review
Among fertility clinics in California, many patients start not with a reproductive endocrinologist but with a trusted OB/GYN who can run the initial workup, flag anything urgent, and refer on when it's time. Lakeside Obstetrics, Gynecology & Fertility — a father-daughter private practice led by Dr. Ziyad Hannon and Dr. Monica Hannon — sits at 402 8th Avenue, Suite 201 in San Francisco's Inner Richmond and functions as exactly that kind of first stop.
This is a boutique general OB/GYN practice with a clear interest in early fertility evaluation. Dr. Ziyad Hannon has been in private practice in San Francisco since 1984; Dr. Monica Hannon joined after completing her residency. They are board-certified obstetrician-gynecologists — not reproductive endocrinologists — and the practice does not run an IVF lab or appear in SART reporting.
Training and Credentials
Dr. Ziyad Hannon, MD, FACOG, earned his undergraduate degrees from UC Berkeley (Biochemistry) and the University of San Francisco (Computer Science), then his MD from UCLA School of Medicine. He completed his OB/GYN residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and received UCSF School of Medicine's 2010 Outstanding Teacher Award. He speaks English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Dr. Monica Hannon, MD, FACOG, is a San Francisco native. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, earned her MD from The George Washington University School of Medicine, and completed her OB/GYN residency at George Washington University, serving as Chief Administrative Resident. She is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Services and Specialties
Services offered at Lakeside include:
- Annual well-woman exams and general obstetric care
- Infertility assessment and FemVue tubal patency testing
- Ovulation and cycle management for patients trying to conceive
- On-site pelvic ultrasound and early pregnancy confirmation
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) evaluation
- Fibroid and endometriosis management
- Minimally invasive and laparoscopic gynecologic surgery
- Colposcopy and LEEP for abnormal Pap smears
- LGBTQ-affirming care, menopause management, and contraception
The practice does not advertise IVF, ICSI, or donor-egg programs. Patients who need advanced reproductive technology are referred to an REI.
Fertility Workup Before an REI Referral
A thoughtful OB/GYN workup can save months before an REI consult. Typical first-pass testing includes cycle day 3 FSH, estradiol, and AMH; TSH and prolactin; an HSG or FemVue for tubal patency; a pelvic ultrasound for antral follicle count and fibroids; and a partner semen analysis through a reference lab. Patients with regular cycles and normal basics may trial timed intercourse or be referred directly for IUI; those with blocked tubes, severe male-factor findings, diminished ovarian reserve, or age 38+ after six months of trying are usually best served by moving straight to a reproductive endocrinologist. Our how to read IVF success rates guide is a good primer for anyone handed a referral.
Patient Experience
Lakeside carries an unusually strong public reputation — a 5.0 Google rating across roughly 349 reviews, which is rare for any medical practice at that volume. Recurring themes in reviews point to attentive listening, clear explanations of results, and continuity of care across an entire pregnancy or fertility workup. The Inner Richmond location is accessible by the 38-Geary and has street parking typical of the neighborhood.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
San Francisco has a large LGBTQ+ and single-parent-by-choice population for whom at-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is often a sensible first step — particularly when there's no known fertility diagnosis and donor sperm is already lined up.
At-home insemination kits from MakeAMom are a one-time purchase, reusable until conception, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use a few home cycles in parallel with an OB/GYN workup before escalating to clinical IUI. If you have a known diagnosis, have been trying 12 months (six if you're over 35), or your physician has recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified REI is the right next step.
Insurance and Cost in California
California's SB 729, signed in 2024 and phased in starting 2025, requires large-group state-regulated commercial plans to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including IVF. Self-funded (ERISA) employer plans are exempt. An OB/GYN workup like the one at Lakeside is typically billed as routine gynecologic care and covered under standard medical benefits — a practical way to start before any IVF authorization is needed. See our fertility insurance mandates by state guide and IVF cost by state breakdown.
Location and Contact
Address: 402 8th Avenue, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94118 Phone: (415) 741-1000 Website: lakesideobgyn.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lakeside do IVF? No. Lakeside is a general OB/GYN practice that provides fertility assessment, tubal patency testing, and cycle management. Patients who need IVF, ICSI, or donor gametes are referred to a reproductive endocrinologist.
Is the practice LGBTQ-affirming? Yes. The practice explicitly lists LGBTQ care among its services and sees a broad mix of San Francisco patients, including same-sex couples and single parents by choice.
Do they accept insurance? Lakeside contracts with major commercial insurers; verify benefits before your visit. California's SB 729 strengthens fertility coverage for many large-group plans starting in 2025.
Editorial note: Independently written by the Fertlo editorial team; not sponsored. See our editorial policy.