UCSF Fertility Group operates within the University of California, San Francisco health system — one of the nation's top-ranked academic medical centers. Located at 2356 Sutter St in San Francisco, the practice brings together board-certified reproductive endocrinologists alongside the broader UCSF research enterprise, giving patients access to clinical trials, subspecialty consultations, and evidence-based protocols that are continuously refined by institutional research. For a full directory of fertility care providers across the Bay Area and the rest of the state, see the California fertility clinics listing.
Physicians and Clinical Team
UCSF Fertility Group is staffed by reproductive endocrinologists who hold faculty appointments at the UCSF School of Medicine. This academic structure means physicians are expected to maintain active research programs while delivering clinical care — a combination that benefits patients through exposure to emerging techniques in embryology, genetics, and reproductive immunology. The clinical team includes reproductive nurses, genetic counselors, embryologists with doctoral training, and mental health professionals who specialize in the psychological dimensions of fertility treatment. Because UCSF is a teaching institution, fellows in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) may participate in care under attending supervision, and all procedures are performed by credentialed faculty.
Services and Treatments
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) with fresh and frozen embryo transfer
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) and monogenic disorders (PGT-M)
- Egg (oocyte) cryopreservation for elective fertility preservation and medical indications
- Sperm cryopreservation
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI) with partner or donor sperm
- Ovulation induction and timed intercourse protocols
- Third-party reproduction: gestational carrier and egg donation coordination
- Surgical consultation for uterine anomalies, endometriosis, and tubal disease
- Recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation and management
- LGBTQ+ family-building services including reciprocal IVF
- Oncofertility (fertility preservation before cancer treatment)
Laboratory and Success Rates
UCSF Fertility Group's embryology laboratory operates within the UCSF Medical Center infrastructure and is subject to CLIA certification and accreditation requirements. As an academic center, protocols are aligned with professional society guidelines from ASRM and SART. Reported success rates depend on many individual factors including patient age, ovarian reserve, embryo quality, and underlying diagnosis, and vary meaningfully across patient cohorts. Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.
Patient Experience
Patients choosing UCSF Fertility Group benefit from being within the UCSF health system, which facilitates seamless referrals to maternal-fetal medicine, genetics, urology, and oncology. San Francisco is a diverse, LGBTQ+-affirming city, and the fertility team reflects that community commitment with inclusive intake forms, co-parent-friendly policies, and experience coordinating care for patients of varied family structures. The Sutter St location is accessible by public transit (MUNI lines serve the corridor) and is close to several UCSF clinical buildings, making combined-appointment days more convenient. Parking in San Francisco can be challenging; patients are encouraged to check UCSF's campus parking options or use rideshare. Because wait times at academic centers can run longer than at private practices, patients should inquire about appointment lead times when scheduling initial consultations.
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 does not have a state mandate requiring insurers to cover IVF, but many large employers — particularly in the technology and healthcare sectors concentrated in the Bay Area — have voluntarily added comprehensive fertility benefits. UCSF accepts a wide range of insurance plans and participates with many major commercial carriers. Patients should verify fertility-specific benefits, including IUI and IVF cycle limits, medication coverage, and diagnostic testing coverage, with their insurer before beginning treatment. UCSF's financial counselors can help patients understand out-of-pocket estimates and may be able to advise on financing or payment plan options for self-pay cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UCSF Fertility Group treat patients from outside the Bay Area? Yes. As a nationally recognized academic medical center, UCSF sees patients from across California and other states. Some consultations can be conducted via telehealth, and monitoring visits may be able to be arranged with a local OB-GYN or reproductive clinic closer to the patient's home.
What is the benefit of being treated at an academic fertility center? Academic centers typically offer access to the latest clinical research, subspecialty consultations within the same health system, and providers who must demonstrate proficiency in published outcomes to maintain faculty standing. The tradeoff can be longer scheduling lead times compared to smaller private practices.
Does UCSF offer fertility preservation before cancer treatment? Yes. UCSF's oncofertility program coordinates with oncology teams to expedite egg or embryo freezing before chemotherapy or radiation. Patients should ask their oncologist for a referral as early as possible after diagnosis to preserve all timing options.
Are same-sex couples and single parents by choice welcome? Yes. UCSF Fertility Group has extensive experience with reciprocal IVF, donor sperm IUI, and gestational carrier arrangements for LGBTQ+ patients and solo parents. The team includes staff familiar with the legal and logistical dimensions of third-party reproduction.