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.

check_circleWhy choose Florida Fertility Institute?

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    1. 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.
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    2. 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.
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    3. 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.
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    4. 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.
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    5. 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.

warningWhat to watch out for at Florida Fertility Institute?

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    1. 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.
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    2. 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.
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    3. 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.
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    4. 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.
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    5. 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.
4.0
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119 reviews
Based on real patient reviews

Florida Fertility Institute — Patient Reviews

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S*** S.
4 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 th…

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C*** F.
6 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 rou…

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H*** V.
6 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 H…

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K*** R.
7 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…

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J*** W.
8 months ago
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I had a successful surgery with Dr. Fonticiella to remove a 12cm uterine fibroid. The staff was very nice and responsive. I highly recommend Dr. Fonticiella and the Fertility Institute.

I came here on a referral basis from Dr Reyes. I had a 12cm by 11cm uterine fibroid where the end game would be a hysterectomy. Some people have had bigger ones but I'm 100 lb and skinny and athletic …

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G*** A.
10 months ago
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This IVF clinic had poor communication, repeatedly went unanswered or abruptly disconnected calls, and rude staff. The bill was also incorrect initially due to staff failure. The staff member Vanessa was particularly arrogant and dismissive.

I would rate this experience zero stars if possible. Their communication with both staff and patients is severely deficient. Repeated calls went unanswered or were abruptly disconnected. After fina…

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C*** R.
11 months ago
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The reviewer had a very positive experience with Florida Fertility Institute, particularly with Dr. Fonticiella and Dr. Sanchez. They had a successful IVF cycle after switching providers and praised the team's communication and execution. The reviewer is

My husband and I first met Dr. Fonticiella at the Tampa satelite office almost year ago to the date, and throughout the initial conversation, we could immediately tell that she was a very caring and …

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M*** K.
1 years ago
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The doctors and staff are amazing! I’m so grateful we chose this clinical for our IVF journey.

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R*** M.
1 years ago
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The reviewer had a positive experience with Nurse Jill, an APRN. The staff were knowledgeable, personable, and warm. The visit was helpful and reassuring.

I saw Jill,APRN, for menopause and related symptoms. I was pleasantly surprised at how knowledgeable and personable Jill was! She took so much time with me and it was such a great experience. As a nur…

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D***
1 years ago
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Review of IVF clinic with success, but difficult process and burning of tubes. Great journey with Dr Sanchez, good communication quality, and grateful for the outcome.

𝐼 𝐶𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝐷𝑟 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑧 𝐸𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑀𝑦 𝑇𝑢𝑏𝑎𝑙 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑙 𝐴 𝑆𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠. 𝐼 𝐻𝑖𝑔𝑙𝑦 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑊𝑎𝑠 𝐴 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝐽𝑜𝑢…

Florida Fertility Institute — FAQ

smart_toyAI-generated
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.

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