Arlene Morales, MD – Fertility Specialists Medical Group Located in San Diego, California

Michele Powers

7 months ago

Mirroring everyone else. Do NOT go here - horrible experience from first interaction to last. Dr. Morales and the team (Denise and Irene, and the front desk person) treated me with no respect, and took money from my card without my signature. They then bullied me into paying in a private office for my second session. We paid $825 for ZERO answers. This doesn't even scratch the surface of our experience. Do everything you can to not go here, please. For the future of your family.

Christianne Kinder

a month ago

Felt like she lacked empathy and she honestly seemed like she was tired of doing the work she is doing. Felt like she blew off my concerns as if they weren't legitimate and acted like it's so simple.

Amanda Detzel

10 months ago

We had a wonderful experience with Dr Morales and I’m so surprised by some of the negative reviews. We came to her after being dragged around different hospitals for reoccurring pregnancy loss and decided we needed a reproductive specialist. She was very empathetic to what we’ve been through and clearly had looked over all my medical history before I showed up. She knew exactly what test we completed and which ones we’re still outstanding. She explained the full picture and what we still needed to get done and her office helped up book everything. She tested for things my other doctors missed, which lead to us discovering an autoimmune disorder. After getting our results, she encouraged us to keep trying on our own before moving to IUI/IVF, as she thought we’d be able to get pregnant again . I’m so surprised to see the money driven comments because our experience was the exact opposite, she even said “it’s in your best interest financially to keep trying on your own”… After 4 months of trying we were able to get pregnant. Her office was amazing at getting me in for an early ultrasound to confirm, and when my OBGYNs office couldn’t get me in for the 10 week I called Dr Morales and her team told me to come in and they would do my 10 week scan. Scans after pregnancy loss are truly terrifying and Dr Morales was so supportive and empathetic. She is a direct person but when it comes to fertility, I want someone who’s going to be honest and direct with me. We are so thankful for her and her team and would absolutely recommend them.

Abby Tomlinson

9 months ago

I would not recommend or seek at your own risk! We did IVF last April this year with Dr. Morales. In her clinic she does have a lot awards hung at the waiting area. During the entire IVF treatment, we told her we'd like the fresh transfer since its already included in the package. You are not allowed to customized it. She had to set another appt because we want the fresh transfer that she need to talk to us to make sure we understand that process. Worked with Alexa IVF nurse as well. Gave me a wrong instructions on which medications to take after I verified with her that that wasn't the Dr. Told us during the appt. She still insisted that continue taking that medication. On my next visit after couple days taking that med, dr. Morales told me I'm not supposed to be on that med and she gave me assurance that it's ok if I started the other when I'm not supposed to. They will just work around with a different medication. Sent couple prescription that they never told me to take. I end up coming to the clinic every single day. And some days I had to pick whatever is available because dr. Morales is fully book. I only see her 2 during the ivf treatment. The rest was another MD. And both of them everytime I have a follow up questions during the visit they won't entertain us. They are rushing us to get out. Like 5min the max in the clinic + blood work. They had to do the sonogram (water testing) to make sure I have a clean slate uterus prior to fresh transfer. They found 2 small polyps and "synechiae" and we recorded the whole ultrasound and it looks like a made up "synechiae" from the saline being injected inside then screenshot it. I swear to god. We didnt ask her during the test. We just watched the video at home. Went to see dr. Morales the 2nd time to discuss the sonogram. She didnt even plan on discussing it, I had to ask her how was it. She said we had to do another appt to go over with it. Also because my progesterone level wasn't doing good. Fresh transfer is unlikely gonna happen. During another appt. She explained this sonogram and per her job, ethically she doesn't wanna do the transfer because of the 2 small polyps and synechiae and the progesterone level is not good. I asked her, what's the point of prescribing me with progesterone suppository? Is it not going to keep my progesterone to help with my pregnancy? She didn't answer that part. She's doing everything to make our wants (fresh transfers) not to happen. So we have to pay another $3-5k for frozen transfers. And if you don't qualify for fresh transfer you don't get any re imbursement for that part and you still have to pay more for frozen transfer. Which I think is ridiculously doesn't make sense. It's too late for us to back out. So day of egg retrieval, in the pre op room we met the embryologist and the dr who will do the egg retrieval (not Dr. Morales herself). The embryologist told us that "WE'RE LUCKY IF WE GET 1 EMBRYO, MOST LIKELY NONE" I was like, why are you telling us that, you don't even have my egg and his sperms yet. Like they already planned everything to fail us this cycle no matter what. They retrieve 10egg and 9egg was matured, 5 were fertilized and monitored for development. They all slowed down on day 3, waited more til day 7 and received a call that they already discarded my fertilized egg since nothing developed to a blastocyst. They didnt even offer to check why it didn't develop so we know the cause, I don't even know if they can test those to check for the problem. Overall we were scammed. It's unbelievable that not a single one out of 5 fertilized didn't fully developed plus the fact that embryologist told us before the surgery that we wont have any Embryo or lucky to have 1. They don't listen to you. They only go by protocol. It is not customized to your own needs. Like everyone they just want your money. We were so devastated.

Verona Liu

a year ago

I’ve worked in the medical field for many years and have never experienced such poor service. The only kind person here is Dr. Shelly, but Dr. Morales is purely money-driven and lacks empathy. She refuses to allow direct contact and won’t respond to a single patient without additional payment. I paid for a consultation where I was misinformed, and when I reached out to the front desk with follow-up questions related to that same appointment, I was told I’d need to book and pay for another consultation. (If there are any medical negligence lawyers, please look into this clinic.) This is by far the WORST clinic I have ever visited. They reel you in with treatments, and once you’ve invested your time, you’re stuck with a provider who constantly takes without giving. The reviews speak for themselves—this place is awful. Irene, the receptionist, is probably the worst of them all and deliberately says things to frustrate patients. For example: Me: One of my consultations was cut short due to a disconnection. Can you assist me with rescheduling and waiving the payment? Irene: No, you would have to pay again. A second time, I called about another issue: Me: I had my follicle count done last year, but your practice never got back to me. Can someone assist me? I don’t want to pay twice for your company’s negligence. Irene: You would have to start all over because it has been a year. She then mentioned she could transfer me to the financial department for more information—but that had nothing to do with my concern. I was also cut off during an appointment with Dr. Morales due to a poor connection. When I rescheduled, they billed my insurance over $100 twice and asked me to pay the deposit twice. On top of that, they were going through internal changes and failed to inform me of my results. I ended up going to a different fertility clinic, which was significantly better, but they advised me to stick with one provider since multiple procedures had already been performed. So, reluctantly, I returned here—only to be told that since it had been nearly a year, I would need to restart all the procedures and pay the original amount again due to their lack of organization. At this point, I may gather other patients to share their experiences and explore possible actions because this clinic should not be allowed to treat customers this way. To make matters worse, I had been communicating with Keila, who was sending me information and responding to emails—until she suddenly stopped without warning. Not even an automated message was set up to inform me of her absence. After a month of no response, I contacted the clinic again, and Irene told me: “You should just email our public email because when employees are not in the office, you won’t get a response.” That is not an acceptable way to handle customer service. If an employee is unavailable, an automated email should inform patients to reach out elsewhere. Keila was originally handling my case, so how was I supposed to know I needed to switch to a public email? This clinic is disorganized, unethical, and focused only on profit. Avoid it at all costs.