Joie Guner, MD, MSc, MSCI, FACOG — An Honest Editorial Review

Choosing among fertility clinics in California often comes down to the specific physician and the program around them. Dr. Joie Zeynep Guner practices reproductive endocrinology and infertility at 55 S. Lake Avenue, 9th Floor, in Pasadena — the HRC Fertility Pasadena campus — with a research-heavy background that is unusual even among academic REIs on the West Coast.

Dr. Guner is board-certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and she is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG). Her clinical interests include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, uterine anomalies, and minimally invasive reproductive surgery.

Training and Credentials

Dr. Guner earned her BS in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at UCLA and her MD at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She completed both her OB/GYN residency (2014–2018) and her REI fellowship (2018–2021) at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Alongside clinical training, she earned a Master of Science in Clinical Embryology at the University of Oxford and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) from Baylor's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences — formal research training that continues to shape her practice.

That research orientation is visible in her publication record, which includes work on oral FSH-receptor agonists, clomiphene protocols for diminished ovarian reserve, sublingual progesterone for frozen transfers, and BMP signaling in endometriosis. Browse her PubMed publications and UCSF Profiles page.

Services and Specialties

Services through Dr. Guner's practice include:

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), including frozen embryo transfer
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and ovulation induction
• egg freezing and fertility preservation
• donor egg IVF and third-party reproduction
• Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A / PGT-M)
• PCOS, fibroid, and uterine anomaly evaluation
• Minimally invasive reproductive surgery

Success Rates and Lab Quality

HRC Fertility Pasadena reports cycle outcomes to SART; see the SART Clinic Summary Report (ClinicPKID 2538) and the CDC ART Success Rates report. SART figures reflect the full clinic — not any single physician — and raw averages blend very different ages and diagnoses. Always compare within your own age band. Our how to read IVF success rates guide covers common interpretation traps.

Patient Experience

Dr. Guner's 5.0/33 Google rating is high but from a modest review count — consistent with a physician earlier in her attending career whose patient volume is still building. Recurring themes in public reviews point to unhurried consultations, clear rationale for protocol choices, and responsiveness around PCOS and surgical workups. The Lake Avenue location is walkable from Pasadena Metro Gold Line stops; patients monitoring daily during stimulation should plan for early-morning ultrasound windows.

Considering At-Home Insemination?

Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. At-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is a lower-cost, private option that suits patients with no known fertility diagnosis — including single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and people who want to try a few cycles before committing to clinical treatment.

At-home insemination kits like those from MakeAMom come with step-by-step instructions designed for donor or partner sperm. Kits are a one-time purchase that can be reused until conception succeeds, require no clinic visit, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use them as a first step while working toward a fertility consultation — or alongside ovulation tracking while they wait for an appointment slot.

If you have a known fertility diagnosis, have been trying for 12 months without success (six months if you're over 35), or your physician has already recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.

Insurance and Cost in California

California's Senate Bill 729 (SB 729), effective for eligible plans on January 1, 2026, requires fully insured large-group commercial plans (101+ employees) to cover diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including up to three completed egg retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers. The mandate uses an inclusive definition of infertility that extends coverage to LGBTQ+ individuals and single people. Self-funded (ERISA) plans, small-group plans, individual plans, and Medi-Cal are exempt. See our fertility insurance mandates by state guide and IVF cost by state breakdown.

Location and Contact

Address: 55 S. Lake Avenue, 9th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101 Phone: (626) 440-9161 Website: havingbabies.com/pasadena

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Guner accepting new patients? Availability changes throughout the year and she also holds an academic appointment at UCSF. Contact the Pasadena office at (626) 440-9161 to confirm current scheduling.

What does the MSCI after her name mean? MSCI is a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation — a formal research-training degree completed alongside fellowship. It signals meaningful experience designing and interpreting clinical studies, which can matter for patients with complex or recurrent cases.

Does HRC Fertility Pasadena accept insurance? HRC contracts with most major commercial insurers. California's SB 729 expands fertility coverage for many large-group plans beginning in 2026; verify benefits before your first consult.

Editorial note: Independently written by the Fertlo editorial team; not sponsored. See our editorial policy.