For Colorado families navigating infertility, Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado has been a mainstay of the regional landscape for more than two decades. Operating four clinics across the Denver metro area — in Denver, Littleton, Lafayette, and Lone Tree — Conceptions combines an experienced team of subspecialty-trained reproductive endocrinologists with an accredited in-house IVF laboratory and a notably wide menu of treatment options. In 2023, the practice joined the RMA Network, one of the most recognized names in U.S. fertility medicine, adding national research infrastructure and shared clinical protocols to a practice that had already built a strong local reputation. Patients researching their options can compare programs across the state through our guide to Colorado fertility clinics, or review how IVF works from start to finish in our IVF overview.
Physicians and Clinical Team
The clinic's core physician group consists of seven reproductive endocrinologists, all holding MD and FACOG designations. Fewer than 1,500 board-certified reproductive endocrinologists practice in the United States, and having seven under one roof gives Conceptions notable clinical depth for a regional program.
Mark Bush, MD, FACOG, FACS is the medical director and founding physician. He earned his undergraduate degree in biology with honors from UC Berkeley, his medical degree from Georgetown University, and completed a three-year Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at Duke University — one of the country's most competitive REI training programs. He also holds FACS (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons), a distinction that reflects particular proficiency in reproductive surgery. Dr. Bush has authored 23 peer-reviewed publications in infertility-related topics and co-authored a landmark study with embryologist Glenn Proctor examining pregnancy outcomes from more than 1,800 IVF cycles, published in Fertility and Sterility. His recognitions include the American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award for 13 consecutive years (2003 to present), the Joyce M. Vargyas Visionary Award from the American Fertility Association (2011), the CREOG National Faculty Award from the American College of OB/GYN (2001), and Top Doctor recognition from 5280 magazine in both 2023 and 2024.
Althea O'Shaughnessy, MD, FACOG brings more than three decades of reproductive medicine experience to the team. She earned her MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, completed her OB/GYN residency at the University of Connecticut Health Center, and trained in Reproductive Endocrinology at Downstate Medical Center in New York. Before joining Conceptions, she held attending positions at Mount Sinai Hospital, the Cooper Center for IVF in New Jersey, and the Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine in New York. She has authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers and presentations. Her awards include Castle Connolly Top Doctor recognition across nine separate years (2010–2024), the American Health Council "Best In Medicine" designation (2019), and 5280 Top Doctor in 2023 and 2024. Dr. O'Shaughnessy is known for her emphasis on patient education, transparent communication, and individualized treatment planning.
Robert Greene, MD, FACOG received his medical degree from The Ohio State University and completed his OB/GYN residency at the University of Louisville before finishing his Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at UCLA-Harbor Medical Center — a program with deep roots in the development of modern ART. He brings significant procedural and clinical breadth to the practice.
Jasmine Chiang, MD, FACOG completed her OB/GYN residency at Maine Medical Center and her Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She joined Conceptions' physician team following her fellowship and has focused on IVF, fertility preservation, and management of complex infertility diagnoses.
Aimee Ferrandino, MD, FACOG spent 15 years as an Assistant Professor at Duke University Medical Center, where she focused on early pregnancy management and helped train the next generation of OB/GYN specialists. Her clinical background in early pregnancy loss informed a natural transition toward infertility diagnosis and treatment. She joined Conceptions in August 2022.
Malgorzata E. Skaznik-Wikiel, MD, FACOG and Simone Elder, MD, FACOG round out the physician group, each holding FACOG board certification and contributing to the clinic's clinical and surgical capacity.
Services and Treatments
Conceptions offers a broad, full-service fertility program spanning diagnostic evaluation through complex treatment:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) — including ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and both fresh and frozen embryo transfer
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation) — elective and medically indicated fertility preservation
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A and PGT-M) — aneuploidy screening and monogenic disease testing
- Donor Egg IVF — through the clinic's internal egg bank, Colorado Egg Donation, and approved external donor banks; both fresh and frozen cycles available
- Donor Sperm Services — sourced from FDA-regulated sperm banks
- Donor Embryo Program — for patients with failed IVF cycles, diminished ovarian reserve, or genetic concerns
- Gestational Surrogacy / Gestational Carrier — supporting individuals who cannot carry a pregnancy
- LGBTQIA+ Family Building — inclusive pathways for same-sex couples and single parents
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Evaluation and Treatment
- Comprehensive Fertility Evaluation — hormonal testing, antral follicle counts, uterine cavity assessment
The clinic's in-house donor egg bank, Colorado Egg Donation, allows patients to access pre-screened donor oocytes without waiting for a fresh donor cycle to coordinate — a logistical advantage that can meaningfully shorten timelines.
Laboratory and Success Rates
Conceptions operates a CAP-accredited IVF laboratory, a CLIA and FDA-certified andrology lab, and a CLIA and CAP-accredited endocrinology lab — credentials that represent rigorous independent quality benchmarks across all three major laboratory functions. The main Littleton facility houses a three-level building with multiple operating suites, ultrasound rooms, HSG imaging, and a natural gas generator capable of powering clinical departments for days — a meaningful redundancy given the sensitivity of embryo culture to power interruption.
The embryology laboratory uses seven Esco MIRI incubators and two K-System incubators, each featuring independent culture chambers and 24/7 dataloggers that monitor the embryo culture environment around the clock. An RI Witness electronic witnessing system — described by its manufacturer as the world's most established ART chain-of-custody verification technology — is in place to prevent specimen mislabeling. Three ICSI and biopsy stations equipped with Olympus microscopes and laser systems support the genetic testing workflow. Air quality is maintained by a LifeAire filtration system that eliminates up to 99.99% of biological and chemical contaminants in a single pass. Conceptions was also Colorado's first clinic to adopt TMRW embryo storage, which uses RFID technology to track eggs and embryos at cryogenic temperatures — a patient safety advance over traditional manual labeling systems.
On outcomes, the clinic reports an IVF success rate of 71.2% for patients under 35 using their own eggs, a figure that compares favorably to nationally reported benchmarks. When Conceptions joined the RMA Network in 2023, RMA reported that its patients under 35 achieved an 83% live birth rate, against a SART national average of approximately 68.6%. Patients should consult the clinic's current data directly through the SART Clinic Summary Report and the CDC ART Surveillance database, as outcomes vary meaningfully by age, diagnosis, and cycle type, and year-over-year changes in patient mix can affect published statistics.
Patient Experience
Conceptions serves patients across a wide geographic footprint with four metro Denver locations — Denver (4500 E. 9th Ave.), Littleton, Lafayette, and Lone Tree — giving patients flexibility in where they complete monitoring appointments and consults. The main Littleton facility is the largest and houses the primary IVF laboratory and surgical suites, but each satellite office is integrated into the same clinical infrastructure.
The clinic has earned the Optum Fertility Center of Excellence Network designation for nine consecutive years, a recognition that requires meeting or exceeding Optum's care standards in areas including pregnancy achievement rates, minimized multiple-birth risk, physician qualifications, and recognized industry accreditations. Achieving this status across nine consecutive years signals sustained operational consistency rather than a single-year snapshot.
Reviews of the practice reflect a range of patient experiences. Many patients describe caring, responsive staff, thorough medical oversight, and a sense of being genuinely supported through the emotional weight of fertility treatment. The clinic's size and multi-physician structure means individual experience can vary depending on which physician and care team a patient works with most closely. Patients who value a high-volume, academically oriented program with broad treatment capabilities tend to find Conceptions a strong fit; those seeking a smaller boutique environment may want to ask during their consultation how continuity of care is managed across the team.
Insurance and Financing
Colorado's Building Families Act, passed in 2023, requires most Colorado health benefit plans to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF and fertility preservation services. This is a significant development for Colorado patients, as it removes a financial barrier that patients in most other states still face. Each Conceptions patient is paired with a dedicated financial coordinator who reviews insurance benefits directly with the carrier, confirms coverage details, and outlines out-of-pocket estimates before treatment begins.
For patients with partial or no insurance coverage, the clinic offers a range of third-party financing options including ARC Fertility, Future Family, CapexMD, Bundl, and Prosper Healthcare Lending. Conceptions also offers self-pay treatment packages for patients who prefer a bundled pricing structure. Patients should ask the financial team specifically about multi-cycle pricing, refund program eligibility, and any available grant programs during the initial consultation, as these offerings can change and may not be prominently advertised.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RMA Network, and how does it affect care at Conceptions? RMA (Reproductive Medicine Associates) is one of the largest physician-led fertility networks in the United States, with a research-oriented clinical infrastructure. Conceptions joined the RMA Network in 2023, maintaining its Colorado-based physician team and locations while gaining access to RMA's shared protocols, outcomes data, genetic testing research, and national clinical collaborations. Day-to-day care continues to be provided by Conceptions' Colorado physicians in Colorado facilities.
Does Conceptions have an in-house egg donor program? Yes. The clinic operates Colorado Egg Donation, its own internal donor egg bank. This means patients have access to pre-screened, ready-to-use frozen donor eggs without needing to wait for a fresh cycle to synchronize with a donor. Conceptions also works with approved external egg banks for patients who want a broader donor pool.
What is the Optum Fertility Center of Excellence Network designation? Optum's Fertility Center of Excellence Network is a credentialing program that evaluates fertility clinics on adherence to clinical care standards, pregnancy achievement rates, risk of multiple births, physician qualifications, and industry accreditations. Conceptions has met these criteria for nine consecutive years, indicating sustained quality benchmarks that Optum reviews annually.
Is Colorado's Building Families Act likely to cover my treatment at Conceptions? The Colorado Building Families Act (effective 2024) requires most fully insured Colorado employer health plans to cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility preservation. However, self-funded employer plans (common at large companies) are typically exempt from state mandates. Conceptions' financial coordinators will contact your insurer directly to determine your specific benefits before you commit to a treatment plan.