Pacific Fertility Center — An Honest Patient Guide

Pacific Fertility Center (PFC) is one of the longest-standing independent fertility practices in Northern California, with roots in the San Francisco Bay Area spanning more than 40 years. Its flagship clinic sits in San Francisco proper, with a second location in Marin County serving patients from the North Bay and Peninsula without requiring a trip into the city. For Bay Area residents — whether in San Francisco, Oakland, the Peninsula, or Marin — PFC occupies a distinctive position: a deeply experienced practice with an in-house egg bank, an active international patient program, and consistent recognition as one of the top fertility centers in the country. Newsweek named PFC among America's Best Fertility Clinics for 2024, and Castle Connolly recognized three of its San Francisco-area specialists as 2026 Top Doctors. PFC is also a member of The Prelude Network, the largest fertility clinic network in the United States, which provides access to shared research, technology infrastructure, and quality standards. The clinic has earned a Fertility Equity Badge, reflecting a formal commitment to inclusive care for all patients regardless of family structure, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Physicians and Clinical Team

PFC's clinical team consists of five physicians — four MDs and one D.O./PhD — alongside two women's health nurse practitioners who support care coordination and patient communication throughout treatment cycles.

• Jennifer Agard, M.D. — Dr. Agard is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and one of PFC's most publicly recognized physicians. She completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and has been a consistent recipient of peer-nominated distinctions including Castle Connolly Top Doctor recognition. She is among the three PFC specialists named to the 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors list. Patient reviews describe her as thorough and direct, with a strong emphasis on explaining the evidence base behind clinical decisions. She has particular expertise in complex infertility cases, recurrent pregnancy loss, and patients who have experienced prior IVF failures elsewhere.

• Liyun Li, M.D. — Dr. Li completed REI fellowship training and brings additional clinical focus to patients from the Asian community; PFC offers Mandarin-language services in part due to her presence on the team. She is also among the Castle Connolly–recognized physicians at PFC for 2026. Patient reviews note her calm demeanor, attention to individualized treatment planning, and accessibility during the cycle process. Dr. Li works across both the San Francisco and Marin County locations.

• Isabelle Ryan, M.D. — Dr. Ryan is a reproductive endocrinologist who has completed fellowship-level training and contributes to PFC's range of complex reproductive medicine cases. She is the third PFC physician named to the 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors list. Reviewers frequently mention her empathy and her ability to translate technically dense information into accessible guidance, particularly for patients navigating a first IVF cycle or processing a failed transfer.

• Michael Strug, D.O., PhD — Dr. Strug holds both a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and a PhD, reflecting a dual background in clinical medicine and scientific research. His research credentials support PFC's participation in clinical studies and reinforce the laboratory's evidence-driven protocols. His academic contributions to the field of reproductive endocrinology extend beyond direct patient care, and he participates in PFC's embryology research efforts.

• Brent Monseur, M.D. — Dr. Monseur is one of PFC's newer attending physicians and completed fellowship-level training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. His addition to the team extends PFC's clinical capacity across both locations and supports continuity of care for patients with complex cycle timelines.

The clinical staff also includes Angela Benirschke, WHNP and Rebecca Rich, WHNP, both women's health nurse practitioners who work directly with patients to manage monitoring visits, medication protocols, and communication throughout treatment.

Services and Treatments

PFC provides comprehensive fertility and reproductive medicine services covering the full range of diagnostic and treatment pathways:

• IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) — The core treatment offering, performed at the San Francisco location where the primary embryology laboratory is housed.
• ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) — Offered as part of IVF cycles where male factor infertility or poor prior fertilization is a concern.
• IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) — Available for appropriate candidates including those using donor sperm, with mild male factor infertility, or unexplained infertility in early treatment.
• Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) — Both elective fertility preservation and medically indicated fertility preservation through PFC's oncofertility program. The clinic uses vitrification, the current gold-standard rapid-freeze technique.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A) — Chromosomal aneuploidy screening for embryos prior to transfer, supporting elective single embryo transfer protocols and reducing miscarriage risk.
• Genetic Testing and Counseling — Including PGT for monogenic disorders (PGT-M), sex selection for family balancing, and comprehensive genetic diagnosis.
• Donor Egg Program — PFC operates the largest independent egg bank in Northern California, Pacific Fertility Egg Bank, offering a wide selection of pre-screened, vitrified donor eggs with immediate availability and lower cost relative to fresh donation cycles.
• Donor Sperm — Access and coordination for patients using anonymous or known donor sperm.
• Gestational Carrier (Surrogacy) Program — Full coordination for intended parents working with a gestational carrier, including medical management of both parties.
• LGBTQ+ Fertility Care — Explicitly supported pathways including reciprocal IVF, donor-sperm IUI and IVF, and surrogacy for male couples. PFC has a dedicated LGBTQ+ program and a Mandarin-language service offering.
• Male Fertility Testing and Treatment — Semen analysis, male-factor diagnosis, and coordination with urology when indicated.
• Fertility Testing and Diagnosis — Baseline hormonal panels, antral follicle counts, hysterosalpingogram (HSG), and other standard workup.
• Endometriosis and PCOS Management — Diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning for these common ovulatory and structural conditions.
• Hydrosalpinx and Uterine Disorder Evaluation — Including assessment and management of fibroids, polyps, and tubal disease affecting implantation.
• Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Evaluation — Workup and treatment protocol for patients with a history of multiple pregnancy losses.
• International Fertility Care — PFC is an established destination for international patients, with infrastructure for remote coordination and multi-language support.
• Clinical Research Studies — Active enrollment in clinical trials and observational studies contributing to the broader literature on ART outcomes.

For a detailed overview of what to expect from IVF from stimulation through embryo transfer, see our IVF guide.

Laboratory and Success Rates

PFC's embryology laboratory, located at the San Francisco clinic, holds an IVF Lab Perfect Score Certification — a distinction that reflects rigorous external audit of laboratory procedures, quality controls, and environmental standards. The lab employs vitrification for both oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, and the practice's collective history spans more than 13,000 babies born as a result of treatment.

PFC reports its outcomes data to both SART (the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) and the CDC, as required of all ART clinics in the United States. Patients can review independently verified cycle-level success rates — broken down by age, diagnosis, embryo type, and transfer type — through the CDC ART National Summary Report. Because success rates vary substantially by patient age and diagnosis, published averages are a starting point for conversation, not a guarantee — the most meaningful data is what your physician projects for your specific situation.

PFC is also a reporting member of SART, and its outcome data is published on the SART national database. Prospective patients are encouraged to request clinic-specific data during their consultation, particularly for their age bracket.

Patient Experience

Across patient reviews, a few consistent themes emerge. The team's clinical depth — specifically, access to multiple fellowship-trained REIs rather than a single physician practice — is frequently cited as reassuring, particularly for patients pursuing treatment after prior failures or navigating complex diagnoses. The Marin County location is valued by North Bay patients for reducing the commute burden during monitoring-heavy cycles, and the Mandarin-language services are cited by Chinese-speaking patients as a meaningful differentiator.

Patients navigating LGBTQ+ family-building paths specifically mention PFC's longstanding commitment to this population, noting that the practice's inclusive orientation feels substantive rather than merely performative. The clinic's formal Fertility Equity Badge designation reflects an external review of its policies and practices for equitable access to care.

The patient portal supports secure messaging, results review, and appointment scheduling. PFC also maintains a library of emotional wellness resources — nutrition and exercise guidance, stress-reduction materials, and mental health referrals — that patients identify as a meaningful component of support during what is universally acknowledged to be a demanding process.

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

California's SB 729, which took effect on July 1, 2025, now requires most large-group health insurance plans issued in the state to cover IVF and other fertility treatments, including up to three complete IVF cycles. PFC actively supports patients in navigating this new mandate and has flagged it prominently for prospective patients who may not yet have verified their updated benefits with their employer. The clinic recommends contacting your insurer directly to confirm what your specific plan covers under the new law, as employer self-funded ERISA plans are not subject to the state mandate.

For patients whose plans do not include fertility coverage, PFC offers several financing pathways:

• Standard Financing Program — Third-party medical financing to spread the cost of treatment over time.
• BUNDL Fertility Packages — Multi-cycle IVF bundles offered at a fixed price, designed for patients who may need more than one retrieval or transfer to achieve a successful pregnancy.
• 100% IVF Refund Program (via BUNDL) — A refund-guarantee program in which eligible patients who do not achieve a live birth receive a full refund of the program fee. Eligibility criteria apply.

For a broader look at how fertility clinics in California vary in their approach to the new mandate and financing options, see our California clinic directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pacific Fertility Center accept patients over 40? Yes. PFC explicitly names patients over 40 as part of its inclusive care mission and has extensive experience with age-related diminished ovarian reserve. Treatment options for this population include IVF with autologous eggs, IVF with donor eggs from the Pacific Fertility Egg Bank, and comprehensive counseling about realistic outcome projections. Your physician will review your ovarian reserve testing and prior history to recommend the most appropriate pathway.

What is the Pacific Fertility Egg Bank? The Pacific Fertility Egg Bank is PFC's in-house frozen egg donation program — the largest independent egg bank in Northern California. It offers a broad selection of pre-screened donors with immediate availability, which eliminates the synchronization cycle required for fresh donation and typically reduces both cost and wait time. Intended parents can search the donor database online.

Does PFC offer LGBTQ+ fertility services? Yes, and this has been a stated priority of the practice for many years. PFC offers reciprocal IVF for female couples, donor-sperm IUI and IVF for single women and female couples, and gestational surrogacy pathways for gay male couples and single men. The practice holds a Fertility Equity Badge and provides Mandarin-language services, reflecting its commitment to serving diverse patient populations.

How do I access my success rate data and verify PFC's published outcomes? PFC reports data annually to both SART and the CDC. You can review independently audited clinic outcomes on the SART database or the CDC ART Data site. During your initial consultation, ask your physician for data specific to your age group and diagnosis — national averages and clinic-wide figures are a useful benchmark but rarely reflect the full picture for any individual patient.