Ryszard J. Chetkowski, MD — An Honest Editorial Review
Among fertility clinics in California, few programs have the longevity of the Alta Bates IVF Program in Berkeley, founded by Dr. Ryszard J. Chetkowski in 1984 and still under his direction today. The practice sits at 2999 Regent Street in the Elmwood district, south of the UC Berkeley campus and minutes from Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. Dr. Chetkowski is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and specializes in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
Training and Credentials
Dr. Chetkowski earned his MD from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine in 1978. He completed his OB-GYN residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital and his fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at UCLA School of Medicine. He has served on the executive council of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), the advisory panel of RESOLVE of Northern California, and the Bay Area Reproductive Endocrinologists Society (BARES). His research on ovarian stimulation protocols and transdermal estradiol in the 1980s helped shape early IVF practice; his work on frozen embryo transfer continues today. Browse his PubMed publications. He is fluent in English and Polish.
Services and Specialties
Services through the Alta Bates IVF Program include:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), including frozen embryo transfer
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and ovulation induction
- egg freezing and fertility preservation
- donor egg IVF and third-party reproduction
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A / PGT-M)
- Hormone replacement and endocrine evaluation
Success Rates and Lab Quality
The Alta Bates IVF Program reports cycle outcomes to SART; see the SART Clinic Summary Report and the CDC ART Success Rates report for age-banded live birth rates. Raw program averages blend very different ages and diagnoses, so always compare within your own age band. Our how to read IVF success rates guide walks through the common interpretation traps.
Patient Experience
Dr. Chetkowski's 5.0/25 Google rating is a small but consistent sample — reviews trend toward long-term, thorough physician involvement rather than the high-throughput academic model. The Regent Street office is a short walk from the Ashby BART station and has street parking in the surrounding Elmwood neighborhood; patients monitoring daily during a stimulation cycle should plan for early-morning appointments.
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 Cost in California
California's SB 729, signed in 2024, requires large-group, state-regulated commercial plans to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment — including IVF — with implementation phasing in over 2025–2026. Self-funded (ERISA) employer plans are exempt. Verify benefits with the Alta Bates IVF Program before your first consult. See our fertility insurance mandates by state guide and IVF cost by state breakdown.
Location and Contact
Address: 2999 Regent Street, Suite 101A, Berkeley, CA 94705 Phone: (510) 649-0440 Website: abivf.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Chetkowski accepting new patients? Public listings indicate the practice is accepting new patients, but availability changes. Call (510) 649-0440 to confirm current scheduling.
Does the practice accept insurance? The Alta Bates IVF Program contracts with several commercial carriers; verify benefits before your first consult. California's SB 729 is expanding fertility coverage for many large-group, state-regulated commercial plans, though self-funded employer plans remain exempt.
What is the typical patient age range? The program treats a broad age range and has a long-running donor egg program for patients in whom autologous IVF is less likely to succeed. Age-specific outcomes are reported on the SART clinic summary.
Editorial note: Independently written by the Fertlo editorial team; not sponsored. See our editorial policy.