Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group — An Honest Editorial Review

West Columbia sits just across the Congaree River from South Carolina's state capital, and it is here — at 2324 Sunset Blvd — that Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group (PREG) anchors its Columbia-area operations. The metro area draws patients from Lexington, Irmo, Cayce, Chapin, and smaller communities across the Midlands region, making the Sunset Boulevard location a meaningful access point for central South Carolina. PREG is not a single-clinic practice: it is the largest network of fertility clinics in the Carolinas, operating six centers across South Carolina and western North Carolina, with three full IVF embryology laboratories in Greenville, Columbia, and Summerville — a footprint that makes it the largest network of IVF labs in the state. The practice was founded in 2003 and has spent more than two decades establishing itself as the dominant regional provider in a state where fertility care has historically been underserved. Patients rating the West Columbia center have given it 4.4 stars across 239 or more Google reviews, a figure that reflects consistent experience across a high-volume practice rather than exceptional outlier performance.

Physicians and Clinical Team

PREG's physician roster at the Columbia center draws from a broad group of fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists (REIs). Each holds board certification through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology with a subspecialty in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Dr. John E. Nichols, MD — Founder and Medical Director of PREG. Dr. Nichols earned his undergraduate degree Magna Cum Laude from Georgia Southwestern College and his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his OB/GYN residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before pursuing his REI fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas — one of the most competitive training programs in the country. Board certified in both general OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinology and infertility, he also holds advanced laparoscopy and microsurgical training certifications. He was listed in "Best Doctors in America" from 2009 through 2012. After seven years in academic and hospital settings, he founded PREG in 2003 and has grown it into one of the premier fertility networks in the southeastern United States.

Dr. Travis W. McCoy, MD — Director of Surgery and Male Infertility. Dr. McCoy graduated Magna Cum Laude from West Virginia University and earned his M.D. from the same institution. He completed advanced OB/GYN and REI training at the University of Louisville, where he served as chief administrative resident and adjuvant clinical faculty. His surgical volume is substantial: he has performed over 600 da Vinci robotic laparoscopic procedures and is a regional referral surgeon for severe endometriosis, uterovaginal anomalies, and complex uterine fibroid cases. He co-authored and served as section editor for both Ob/Gyn Secrets, 4th Edition and Operative Techniques in Gynecologic Surgery: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, placing him among the small number of practicing clinicians who have contributed to major reference textbooks in the specialty.

Dr. Kathryn Imgrund, MD — Advanced Gynecologic Surgery and Infertility Specialist. A South Carolinian by training, Dr. Imgrund completed both her undergraduate studies and medical degree at the University of South Carolina, then pursued her OB/GYN residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. She practiced OB/GYN in Columbia for eight years before joining PREG, during which she developed a high-volume minimally invasive surgical practice with a particular focus on robotic surgery for fibroids and endometriosis. She currently leads the advanced gynecologic surgery program for PREG's Columbia and Lowcountry centers, making her a meaningful resource for patients whose infertility is complicated by structural pathology.

Dr. John F. Payne, MD — Director of Third-Party Reproduction. Dr. Payne is a PREG partner physician with a clinical focus on egg donation, gestational carrier arrangements, and other third-party family-building pathways. His role as director of this program reflects the practice's investment in building out donor and surrogacy pathways for patients who need them.

Dr. J. Graham Theisen, MD, MSCR — Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist. Dr. Theisen holds both his medical degree and a Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR), the latter reflecting a formal commitment to evidence-based and research-grounded clinical practice. His dual degree positions him well for patients who want a physician engaged with the current literature rather than relying solely on longstanding protocols.

Dr. Lauren Rouleau, MD, PhD — Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist. Dr. Rouleau earned both her M.D. and a doctorate, training at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. The combination of physician and scientist credentials is relatively uncommon in clinical REI practice and signals a deep engagement with the underlying biology of reproduction.

Additional REI physicians — including Dr. Tarek K. Khader, MD and Dr. Ahmad H. Arabi, MD — round out the physician group, giving the network depth to cover complex cases across its multiple locations. The embryology team is led by Jing Chen, PhD, HCLD/ELD, a laboratory director with a doctoral degree and accreditation as a High-Complexity Laboratory Director and Embryology Laboratory Director. The clinical staff is supported by nurse practitioners including Haley Pollack and Madison Browning.

Services and Treatments

PREG offers a comprehensive range of assisted reproductive technology and fertility services across its network, with the Columbia center providing access to the full menu:

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) — including standard IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male factor cases
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) — for mild male factor, unexplained infertility, and donor sperm cycles
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) — both PGT-A for aneuploidy screening and PGT-M for single-gene disorders
• Fertility Preservation — elective egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) and embryo banking
• Oncofertility — expedited fertility preservation for patients facing cancer treatment, including the Livestrong Fertility program
• Third-Party Reproduction — egg donation, sperm donation, gestational carrier (surrogacy) coordination, and embryo adoption
• Male Infertility Evaluation and Treatment — semen analysis, hormonal workup, and referral coordination for surgical sperm retrieval
• Minimally Invasive Surgery — advanced laparoscopic and robotic procedures for endometriosis, fibroids, uterine septum, and tubal disease
• Ovulation Induction and Timed Intercourse — for patients earlier in the treatment continuum
• LGBTQ+ Family Building — inclusive protocols for same-sex couples and single parents by choice, including reciprocal IVF
• Second Opinion Consultations — offered at no charge for patients who have been treated elsewhere

Laboratory and Success Rates

The Columbia center operates one of PREG's three full IVF embryology laboratories in South Carolina. The embryology team across the network carries nearly 90 years of combined experience and includes three PhDs and five master's-degree holders — a scientific depth that distinguishes the practice from smaller regional clinics. The laboratory holds accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the ambulatory surgical facilities are accredited through the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), providing third-party validation of quality and safety standards.

PREG is a member clinic of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), which means its IVF outcome data is submitted annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the national ART report. Prospective patients can review PREG's Columbia-specific cycle and success-rate data directly through the CDC ART national database. When reviewing those numbers, keep in mind that success rates vary substantially by patient age, diagnosis, and whether fresh or frozen embryo transfers are used — a clinic treating a higher proportion of older patients or poor-prognosis cases will show lower aggregate rates, and a practice with PREG's volume will have statistically robust figures. The clinic also uses the Univfy PreIVF Report to provide individual success-rate predictions to patients before they commit to a cycle, which is a meaningful departure from relying solely on population-level statistics.

The practice has been designated a Center of Excellence by leading insurance carriers and was recognized as a 2025 Mom's Choice Award winner, a consumer-facing recognition that complements its clinical accreditations.

Patient Experience

What earns PREG West Columbia its 4.4-star Google rating across more than 239 reviews is a combination of factors that are harder to replicate than simply having good physicians. The practice's no-referral-required policy removes the bureaucratic friction that frustrates patients at the start of care, allowing anyone to self-schedule a new patient consultation directly. Operating hours that begin at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays, with Saturday appointments available by arrangement, accommodate working patients who cannot easily attend midday appointments.

The depth of the physician roster matters, too. A practice with nine physicians — including dedicated specialists in surgery, male infertility, and third-party reproduction — can match patients to the doctor whose subspecialty is most relevant to their diagnosis. Reviewers frequently note that they felt individualized care rather than a conveyor-belt experience, and the practice's stated philosophy of a "thoughtful, individualized approach" is supported by the structural reality that the physician team has sufficient breadth to back that claim.

The patient portal provides online access to results, messaging, and appointment management, reducing the administrative burden on patients managing multiple monitoring visits. Access to the full PREG network also means that if a patient relocates within the Carolinas — or if their case requires expertise concentrated at another center — continuity of care is possible within the same medical record system and clinical culture.

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

South Carolina does not have a state insurance mandate requiring coverage for IVF, which places it among the majority of states where fertility treatment is considered an elective benefit rather than a medical necessity under most plans. Despite that legislative gap, approximately 80 percent of PREG's patients carry insurance that covers new patient consultations and diagnostic testing, and a meaningful number have employer-based fertility benefits that extend to procedures. South Carolina state employees covered by the State Health Plan receive $15,000 in lifetime fertility benefits — a significant benefit that can cover one or more complete IVF cycles. PREG also holds preferred TRICARE provider status, giving active military and veteran families a network option.

On the employer-benefit side, PREG participates in several major specialty fertility benefit networks: Progyny, WIN, Maven, ARC Fertility, and Carrot. Patients whose employers offer any of these programs may have access to substantially better coverage than their base health plan provides. Checking with HR before scheduling is advisable.

For patients without coverage or those who have exhausted their benefits, PREG works with multiple financing partners. PatientFi offers 0% APR financing for six months with 24-hour approval. CapexMD provides customized loans covering total treatment costs. Future Family consolidates treatment expenses into a single monthly payment with free prequalification.

The practice also operates a structured refund program: patients in a three-cycle IVF plan may receive up to 50% back if treatment does not result in a viable pregnancy, while single-cycle plan participants may receive up to 25%. The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund provides grant funding specifically for IVF-related costs, and the Livestrong Fertility program offers a minimum 25% discount on fertility preservation services for cancer patients plus free IVF medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PREG require a referral from my OB/GYN to make an appointment? No. PREG does not require a physician referral to schedule a new patient consultation at any of its locations, including the West Columbia center. Patients can contact the clinic directly at (803) 599-4620 or through the online scheduling portal.

What is the difference between the West Columbia location and PREG's other South Carolina clinics? The West Columbia clinic on Sunset Boulevard is PREG's Columbia-area center, serving the greater capital region including Lexington County. It houses one of the practice's three on-site IVF embryology laboratories, meaning patients undergoing IVF in Columbia do not need to travel to Greenville or the Lowcountry for egg retrieval and embryo culture. The other locations — in Greenville, Spartanburg, Summerville, and Mount Pleasant — serve their own regional patient populations, each with local physician coverage.

How do I know if my employer's fertility benefits cover treatment at PREG? PREG participates in several specialty fertility benefit networks, including Progyny, WIN, Maven, ARC Fertility, and Carrot. Contact your HR department or benefits administrator to find out which network your plan uses. For Progyny specifically, you can also call 888-597-5072 to verify eligibility. The practice's billing team can also help confirm in-network status before your first appointment.

Does PREG have experience with LGBTQ+ patients and single parents by choice? Yes. PREG explicitly serves LGBTQ+ patients and single parents by choice across its network, including reciprocal IVF for female same-sex couples and donor sperm insemination or IVF for single patients. Dr. John Payne leads the third-party reproduction program, which also encompasses egg donation and gestational carrier arrangements for patients of all family configurations.

For a broader view of fertility care options across the state, see our guide to fertility clinics in South Carolina. Patients who want to understand what an IVF cycle involves before their first consultation can start with our IVF guide.