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Advanced Fertility Care with Dr. Sadikah Behbehani

If you’re exploring IVF in Los Angeles, you want more than a fertility clinic that treats you like a number on a chart. You want a physician who understands the science of reproductive medicine as deeply as she understands what it feels like to wait, hope, and wonder “will this be the cycle that works?” At the Center for Endometriosis & Fertility, Dr. Sadikah Behbehani brings both to every patient she sees.

Dr. Behbehani is a double fellowship-trained OBGYN, board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as well as Minimally Invasive Gynecologic and Robotic Surgery, a combination held by only a small number of physicians nationwide. That dual expertise matters most for the Los Angeles patients who come to her after complicated fertility histories, endometriosis diagnoses, fibroids, or previous IVF cycles that didn’t go as planned elsewhere. Her practice is based in Costa Mesa, a comfortable and direct drive from Los Angeles, and many of her patients travel from across LA County specifically for her surgical and reproductive expertise.

Why Los Angeles Patients Choose Dr. Behbehani for IVF

Los Angeles has no shortage of fertility clinics. What sets Dr. Behbehani apart is the way she connects the dots between gynecologic surgery and reproductive endocrinology. Many IVF patients in Los Angeles, especially those with endometriosis, fibroids, or unexplained infertility, need a doctor who can both diagnose the underlying anatomical issue and manage the hormonal, embryological side of treatment. Dr. Behbehani does both herself, rather than shuttling patients between separate surgeons and fertility specialists.

Her approach includes:

• Individualized IVF protocols tailored to your hormone levels, ovarian reserve, age, and medical history, rather than a one-size-fits-all stimulation plan
• Surgical correction when needed including excision surgery for endometriosis or fibroid removal, to improve the uterine and pelvic environment before embryo transfer
• Advanced lab techniques including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), laser blastocyst biopsy, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD/PGT)
• Fertility preservation options for patients who want to protect their future fertility ahead of medical treatment or simply on their own timeline
• Compassionate, unhurried consultations where questions are welcomed rather than rushed

Understanding the IVF Process

In vitro fertilization is a multi-step process, and understanding each stage can make the experience feel far less overwhelming.

1. Initial Consultation and Testing 

Your journey starts with a thorough evaluation: bloodwork to assess hormone levels, an ultrasound to evaluate ovarian reserve and uterine anatomy, and a review of your fertility history. If endometriosis, fibroids, or other structural issues are suspected, Dr. Behbehani may recommend additional imaging or a diagnostic procedure before moving forward.

2. Ovarian Stimulation 

You’ll take injectable fertility medications for roughly 10 to 14 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs, rather than the single egg released in a natural cycle. Dr. Behbehani monitors your response closely through bloodwork and ultrasounds, adjusting medication as needed.

3. Egg Retrieval 

Once your eggs reach the right stage of maturity, a minor outpatient procedure retrieves them under sedation. Most patients return home the same day and resume light activity within 24 to 48 hours.

4. Fertilization and Embryo Development 

Retrieved eggs are fertilized in the lab, either through conventional insemination or ICSI, and monitored as they develop into embryos over the following five to six days.

5. Genetic Testing (Optional) 

Patients who choose preimplantation genetic testing can screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities or specific inherited conditions before transfer, which can improve implantation rates and reduce miscarriage risk.

6. Embryo Transfer 

A single embryo, or occasionally more depending on your individual circumstances, is transferred into the uterus. This is a quick, generally painless procedure that doesn’t require anesthesia.

7. The Two-Week Wait and Pregnancy Test 

Roughly nine to fourteen days after transfer, a blood test confirms whether implantation was successful.

IVF for Patients with Endometriosis

A significant number of the Los Angeles patients who seek out Dr. Behbehani for IVF are also managing endometriosis. This condition, where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, can affect egg quality, ovarian reserve, and the receptivity of the uterine lining, making conception more difficult even with assisted reproduction. Because Dr. Behbehani is also an experienced endometriosis excision surgeon, she can evaluate whether surgical treatment before IVF might improve your odds, or whether moving directly into a stimulation cycle makes more sense for your situation. This integrated perspective, rather than a purely medication-based approach, is often what makes the difference for patients who have struggled with previous cycles elsewhere.

IVF Success Rates: What Influences the Numbers

IVF Los Angeles success rates vary widely based on factors including age, ovarian reserve, sperm quality, uterine health, and the underlying cause of infertility. Younger patients using their own eggs generally see higher live birth rates per cycle, while patients over 38 or those with diminished ovarian reserve may benefit from adjusted protocols or, in some cases, donor eggs. Dr. Behbehani discusses realistic, individualized expectations at your consultation rather than relying on clinic-wide averages, which can be misleading for any one patient’s specific circumstances.

Who Should Consider IVF?

IVF may be recommended for patients dealing with:

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Endometriosis-related infertility
• Diminished ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age
• Male factor infertility, including low sperm count or motility
• Unexplained infertility after other treatments haven’t worked
• Genetic conditions where preimplantation testing is desired
• Same-sex couples or single parents by choice using donor sperm or eggs
• Patients pursuing fertility preservation before medical treatment

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your first appointment focuses on listening before recommending. Dr. Behbehani will review your medical and fertility history, order or review relevant testing, and walk you through which treatment path, whether that’s IVF, IUI, surgical intervention, or a combination, fits your goals and diagnosis. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of next steps and realistic timelines, not a generic packet of information.

Serving IVF Patients Throughout Los Angeles

While the practice is based in Costa Mesa, Dr. Behbehani regularly treats patients traveling from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and throughout LA County who are seeking a fertility specialist with advanced surgical training alongside reproductive endocrinology expertise. For many patients, especially those with endometriosis or a complicated fertility history, the drive is well worth the more comprehensive, integrated care. If you’re searching for endometriosis doctors in Los Angeles who also specialize in IVF, Dr. Behbehani’s dual training means you won’t need to coordinate between multiple specialists.

Schedule Your IVF Consultation

Starting IVF is a significant decision, and having a clear, honest, and personalized plan makes all the difference. Contact the Center for Endometriosis & Fertility today at (949) 200-9038 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Sadikah Behbehani and take the next step toward building your family.

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Dr. Sadikah Behbehani is in an OBGYN who specializes in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as well as Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. She completed her 5 year OBGYN Residency at the well renowned McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She then completed a 2 year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at McGill University which makes her double board certified by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada in both OBGYN and REI. In addition, Dr. Behbehani completed a second fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at the prestigious Mayo Clinic and can perform complex pelvic surgeries with both laparoscopy and robotics.

There are only a handful of physicians in the country with such training and being double fellowship trained in surgery and infertility allows Dr. Behbehani to treat complex gynecologic conditions affecting fertility such as endometriosis and fibroids.

As an Associate Professor at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Dr. Behbehani is also heavily involved in medical research and publications. She’s presented at numerous national and international conferences, and her research is consistently quoted in women’s health. She’s a member of many international and national gynecologic societies including American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists (AAGL), and the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS). Click here for an overview of publications involving Dr. Sadikah Behbehani.

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