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Florida Fertility Institute

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United States

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Egg Donation , Gender Selection , Genetics , ICSI , Insemination (IUI) , Social Freezing , Spermbank , Surrogacy

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4.0

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About Florida Fertility Institute

Florida Fertility Institute is a comprehensive reproductive medicine clinic located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, with offices in Clearwater/St. Petersburg and Tampa, specializing in advanced infertility solutions such as in‑vitro fertilization (IVF), microsurgical tubal reversal, gender selection (family balancing), egg‑donor programs and LGBTQ family building. The institute offers a full suite of services including individualized IVF counseling, ICSI, preimplantation genetic testing, assisted hatching, donor‑egg cycles, oocyte cryopreservation (discounted for residents and fellows), and telehealth consultations, while uniquely providing the largest egg‑donor selection in the region and the only family‑balancing option locally. Its board‑certified, fellowship‑trained physicians—Dr. Mark D. Sanchez and Dr. Yissa Fonticiella—lead a team that combines scientific expertise with compassionate, patient‑focused care, emphasizing personalized treatment plans, no large‑group consults, and separate retrieval and transfer schedules to prioritize patient comfort. Florida Fertility Institute reports pregnancy rates among the best in the country, participates in clinical trials offering early access to emerging therapies, and supports patients through dedicated financial counseling, multilingual staff, and comprehensive educational resources, ensuring a supportive environment throughout the fertility journey.

Why choose Florida Fertility Institute?

check_circle Expert Medical Leadership
Dr. Mark Sánchez and Dr. Fonticiella consistently deliver precise diagnoses and successful surgical or IVF interventions. Patients cite smooth egg retrievals, effective tubal surgeries, and high pregnancy rates as direct results of their expertise and calm reassurance.
check_circle Compassionate Care Team
Nurse coordinators such as Rachel, Gail, and Debbie provide continuous emotional support, clear instructions, and rapid responses to patient questions. The nursing staff, including Deborah Martin and Jill, are noted for their warmth, empathy, and willingness to spend extra time with patients.
check_circle Organized Treatment Process
The clinic’s workflow—from initial paperwork to embryo monitoring—receives praise for being well‑structured and easy to follow. Patients report minimal wait times, thorough pre‑procedure briefings, and consistent updates during egg retrieval and embryo development.
check_circle High Success Outcomes
Multiple accounts describe achieving pregnancies after long infertility journeys, including twins, rainbow babies, and successful transfers after rare genetic carrier situations. These outcomes reinforce the clinic’s effectiveness in delivering results.
check_circle Specialized Services
FFI offers a range of specialized care, such as menopause management with APRN Jill and advanced genetic screening, expanding its value beyond standard IVF cycles.

What to watch out for at Florida Fertility Institute?

warning Communication Gaps
Patients experience unanswered calls, delayed after‑hours responses, and difficulty obtaining test results or consult follow‑ups. Some report weeks‑long wait times for emergency line replies and inconsistent callbacks from reception staff.
warning Billing and Estimate Issues
Several patients describe unclear cost estimates, unexpected deposits, and prolonged refunds. Billing staff, particularly Vanessa, are noted for rude interactions and failure to provide timely, itemized statements, leading to insurance disputes.
warning Administrative Delays
Paper‑based records and slow claim submissions cause prolonged insurance processing times. Transferring records between clinics is reported as cumbersome, and some patients encounter missed insurance authorizations.
warning Perceived Dismissiveness
A minority of patients feel that Dr. Sánchez or other clinicians dismissed lifestyle concerns, alternative treatments, or patient‑reported symptoms, resulting in feelings of being unheard and emotionally distressed.
warning IUI Timing Concerns
Patients undergoing IUI report extended delays between sperm processing and insemination, contrary to best‑practice guidelines, and note that staff were dismissive when the issue was raised.

Florida Fertility Institute - Patient Reviews

4.0

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Sabra Stru*****

3 months ago

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THEY LOST MY EMBRYOS!!!! DONT USE THIS CLINIC!!! I had an extremely distressing and unacceptable experience at Florida Fertility, and I feel compelled to warn others. Gayle has run this place into the ground!! I have referred 6 of my friends away from this place and to another clinic! My retrieval was Thursday, Feb 6th. On Monday the 10th, I met with Dr. Sanchez to ask a simple PGT question—something that could easily have been discussed over the phone, but instead I was called in for a "consult, then charged $115. When I was shocked about the fee, the red head up front was rude. After all the money we have already paid for the IVF cycle, I get charged for a question? Anyways, we agreed to proceed with PGT, per Sanchez- and I was told that embryo cells are sent out every Wednesday, so they will be sent out in 2 days if they make it through blast. On Tuesday (Day 5), the embryologist called to update me about the three embryos making it through Blast. On Wednesday the 12th (Day 6), she called and stated the fourth embryo had not progressed and that she would be sending the other three out THAT DAY. By February 21st—nine days later—my PGT portal still showed “pending payment,” with no updates. Confused, I called Florida Fertility. Meaghan said, “that’s weird there’s no update, shell call them. She called back and said Igenomix is pending payment? I already paid FFI for my PGT test. I was super confused. I wasn’t told I ALSO owe Igenomix for PGT as well. So, I called to pay. They told me there’s no payment due, as they didn’t receive any of my cells to test. I called FFI back Meaghan answers, Gayle is in the back screaming “That’s ridiculous, we have a tracking number. Shell call them back and call me again.” NO CALL BACK, and they ignored my SEVERAL calls, because they didn’t have an answer to where my embryos were. So, I left a vm, that I’m heading up to the office to get an answer!! Gayle didnt want me up there, so she instantly calls back. “Hi, this is Gayle returning your call.” UMMMMM WHAT?!?! WHERE ARE MY EMRYOS??? She calmly plays stupid, “They only went out TWO days ago- Wednesday the 19th.” NOOOOO, they went out on the 12th!! “Who told you that?” YOU!!!!!!! And Sanchez, and the embryologist, and Meaghan when I called asking for an update!!!!!! AND YOU JUST TOLD ME YOU HAD A TRACKING NUMBER FOR GOING OUT ON THE 12TH!” She said, "I have no recollection of telling you that." OF COURSE YOU DONT! Then, she called me rude, because I was CLEARLY panicking. Ultimately, it was revealed that the embryologist forgot to place my embryos in the shipping box on the 12th, even though the tracking number was documented in my chart. No one realized they hadn’t actually shipped until I called for an update. My embryos were effectively unaccounted for OVER a week, and afterward all three came back with abnormal results—something I FIRMLY believe is connected to the mishandling. Dr. Sanchez nor Dr. Fonti has reached out to apologize, follow up, or reassure me. I was later told my case was the primary topic of their Thursday meeting, yet STILL, no one contacted me. Also, Gayle scheduled an SIS sonogram and told me it was covered by insurance. The night before, I was informed it would cost $1,100. Gayle said insurance was covering it? Of course, her famous line, “I have no recollection of saying that.” So, assuming I needed it, per Gayle, I moved forward with the sonogram. Come to find out, it’s only if you're implanting!!!! Now that my PGT results came back bad due to mishandling, I DIDN’T EVEN NEED TO DO THAT SONOGRAM. When I emailed Gayle about it, she rudely said… “Well, you could have cancelled” Right, had I know what it was for, I would have waited on my results to come back first, but I did it because you said that was the next step… AND I TRUSTED YOU! Separately, during my ectopic pregnancy surgery, Dr. Fonti BOTCHED my abdomen! When I later showed the area to Dr. Sanchez, he told me, “My work would have never looked that bad!" HORRIBLE CLINIC!

Hayley V*****

5 months ago

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A patient had an amazing experience with Dr. Sanchez at FFI, praising his passion, smooth process, and warmth. They achieved a successful pregnancy after IVF treatment with Dr. Sanchez and his team. The patient highly recommends FFI and Dr. Sanchez for fe

I had an amazing experience at FFI with Dr. Sanchez, Meaghan, my IVF coordinator, and the entire team. My journey began with some pretty sudden and upsetting news—an ectopic pregnancy followed by an HSG confirming tubal factor infertility—but under FFI’s care, every step of the process was so smooth. Dr. Sanchez is not only a true expert in his field but also so passionate about it. I appreciated that he never jumped to worst-case scenarios or burdened me with unnecessary fears; instead, he focused on the facts at hand and guided me through each stage with calm reassurance. Dr. Sanchez and Meaghan treated me with such warmth at each appointment, which meant more than they know since every visit to the office felt very overwhelming and emotional. From egg retrieval and embryo development to laparoscopic tubal ligation, and embryo transfer, the entire process was seamless. Although I was nervous about surgery after recently undergoing the same type for the ectopic, I felt so comfortable in Dr. Sanchez's care and had a very smooth recovery. Today I’m 13 weeks pregnant with a little boy, and I couldn’t be more grateful to God and to FFI for this gift. I highly recommend Dr. Sanchez and the FFI team to anyone seeking fertility care.

Christine*****

5 months ago

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IVF clinic diagnosed with PCOS after 6 months, gave steroids not recommended, had billing issues and poor communication, and total cost was $13000.

The nursing staff was very good but I was apparently diagnosed with PCOS during my initial work up but was not told until 6 months later after I had gone through a retrieval and transfer. My first round I was given steroids which is not recommended. Getting my records was very difficult when transferring clinics. Paper records are a red flag in this age. My current clinic used electronic records and a portal which is much easier to communicate. I would call the after hours emergency line during my transfer and might not get a response until 1 week later. Some things go through insurance and some go through their IVF center which does not work with insurance which because ones very confusing. My initial estimate was about 6500 out of pocket but they took a 9000 deposit which made so sense and it had taken me a year to get my refund from that deposit. I never was given an estimate for the second retrieval and transfer but they just used my original deposit because they took too much … this is not the normal process. You should have signed estimate and deposit for each transfer. Sometimes they would not submit claims to my insurance until months after a procedure charge so it took a very long time for my claims to go through and get back my refund. $13000 later including PGT and embryo transport fees to my new clinic I am not pregnant and all my specialty testing has come back normal. Vanessa with billing is very rude and difficult to talk to. Dr. Sanchez is in appropriate. Dr. Fonti was very professional and did a good job explaining things but told me they normally would perform genetic testing on me before doing any retrieval and transfer to screen for recessive disease but they forgot to perform that for me.

Kayla*****

6 months ago

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Dr. Sanchez and his team helped a couple achieve successful IVF after 15 years of infertility, making them feel valued and heard. The couple holds Dr. Sanchez and his team responsible for their miracle baby. The team's care and emotional support were exce

Dr. Sanchez and his team helped us bring our miracle baby into the world! After fighting 15 YEARS of infertility, our blessing entered this world this July! This institution and team of amazing people are exactly who you want on your side while fighting the hardest battle! They made me feel seen, valued and heard! They walked with me, cried with me and loved on me! They cared for our process I feel like they would have their own! I am still in awe after 15 years, we finally hold the miracle we never thought we would and We have Dr. Sanchez and his team to thank for that!

Joh*****

6 months ago

star star star star star

Very good!

Florida Fertility Institute - FAQ

smart_toy AI-generated based on information from the clinic's website

Does Florida Fertility Institute offer egg donation for IVF treatment? expand_more

Yes, Florida Fertility Institute offers a comprehensive egg donation program for IVF treatment. The clinic maintains the largest selection of screened donor eggs in the Tampa Bay area, limiting donor age to under 30 years to maximize success rates. Each donor undergoes thorough FDA‑ and ASRM‑compliant screening, including infectious disease testing (HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis), genetic and psychological evaluations, and blood typing. Patients can consult via telehealth or in‑person to review donor profiles and select a match that aligns with their preferences. The institute ensures strict confidentiality and anonymity for donors, and its experienced fertility specialists coordinate the donor egg cycle, from synchronization and retrieval to fertilization, embryo culture, and transfer, delivering high pregnancy rates for recipient patients.

Who are the fertility doctors and specialists at Florida Fertility Institute? expand_more

Florida Fertility Institute is led by Dr. Mark D. Sanchez, MD, F.A.C.O.G., a board‑certified obstetrician‑gynecologist and sub‑specialty certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. Dr. Sanchez serves as an Assistant Professor at Florida State University College of Medicine and holds memberships in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and the Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists. The clinical team also includes Dr. Yissa Fonticiella, MD, F.A.C.O.G., a board‑certified OBGYN with specialized training in reproductive care and fluency in Spanish. Together, they are supported by a multidisciplinary staff of fertility nurses, embryologists, and physician assistants who collectively deliver comprehensive assisted reproduction services, ensuring patients receive expert care throughout every stage of their fertility treatment journey.

What fertility treatments and services does Florida Fertility Institute offer? expand_more

Florida Fertility Institute provides a full spectrum of fertility treatments and services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and assisted hatching, and embryo transfer of blastocyst-stage embryos. The clinic also offers intrauterine insemination (IUI), donor egg programs with a large pool of screened donors under age 30, and gestational surrogacy for patients requiring a carrier. Specialized services include LGBTQ family planning, gender selection through PGT, oncofertility options such as oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, and tubal reversal surgery performed by experienced microsurgeons. Additional offerings encompass comprehensive fertility testing, hormonal evaluation, and personalized ovulation induction protocols, ensuring each patient receives tailored assisted reproduction care.

What is the history and background of Florida Fertility Institute? expand_more

Florida Fertility Institute is a nationally and internationally recognized fertility center that has earned a reputation as "The Fertility Experts" in the Tampa Bay region. The practice has received multiple Compassionate Doctor certifications (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018) and Patients’ Choice Awards (2008, 2012‑2014, 2016‑2018), reflecting consistent patient satisfaction and clinical excellence. The institute’s physicians are board‑certified reproductive endocrinologists and obstetricians‑gynecologists with extensive fellowship training. The clinic is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) and is noted for pioneering services such as family balancing (sex selection) and the largest selection of egg donors in the area. Its commitment to education, research, and advanced microsurgical tubal reversal further underscores its leadership in reproductive medicine.

What are the IVF success rates at Florida Fertility Institute? expand_more

Florida Fertility Institute reports pregnancy rates that rank among the highest in the United States for in vitro fertilization cycles. While exact percentages are not disclosed, the clinic emphasizes that its success metrics are consistently above national averages, reflecting the effectiveness of its individualized IVF protocols, use of preimplantation genetic testing, and advanced embryo culture techniques that often result in blastocyst-stage transfers. The institute attributes these outcomes to a combination of experienced fertility specialists, state-of-the-art laboratory practices, and a comprehensive approach to assisted reproduction that includes careful patient selection and personalized medication regimens. Patients can expect a competitive pregnancy rate per embryo transfer, especially when donor eggs are utilized, as the clinic maintains a large, rigorously screened donor pool under 30 years of age, further enhancing success potential.

Does Florida Fertility Institute provide fertility treatment for same-sex couples? expand_more

Florida Fertility Institute actively supports same‑sex couples seeking fertility treatment. The clinic offers LGBTQ family services, including IVF for lesbian couples using donor sperm or shared egg donation, and for gay male couples through egg donation combined with gestational surrogacy. Services encompass comprehensive reproductive endocrinology evaluation, donor egg selection, embryo creation, and transfer to a gestational carrier. The institute also provides gender selection via preimplantation genetic testing for families desiring specific sex outcomes. With a dedicated team of fertility specialists experienced in same‑sex family building, the clinic ensures personalized, compassionate care throughout the assisted reproduction process, from initial consultation to successful pregnancy.

Contact

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Phone +1 727-796-7705

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Address 2454 McMullen Booth Rd STE 601, Clearwater, FL 33759, USA (Find on Google Maps) open_in_new

schedule

Opening Hours

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

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