Rachel Mandelbaum, MD — An Honest Editorial Review

Across the landscape of fertility clinics in California, HRC Fertility stands out as one of the largest private REI networks in the state, with more than a dozen Southern California offices spanning Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego. Dr. Rachel Mandelbaum practices within that network at HRC's West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills locations, and is part of a younger generation of REIs who trained through USC's busy fellowship program before transitioning into private practice.

Dr. Mandelbaum is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG) and currently serves as clinical faculty at the University of Southern California. She has an active academic profile — particularly around fertility preservation and reproductive outcomes research — and continues to publish while practicing full-time clinical REI.

Training and Credentials

Dr. Mandelbaum completed her undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied anthropology and women, gender, and sexuality studies. She earned her MD at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, then completed her internship and OB-GYN residency at LAC+USC Medical Center — one of the highest-volume training hospitals in the country. She went on to complete her Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at the University of Southern California in affiliation with HRC Fertility, and now holds a clinical faculty appointment at USC.

She has published widely during and after fellowship. Browse her PubMed publications, which span fertility preservation, oncofertility, reproductive outcomes in suboptimal responders, and obstetric complications of ART.

Services and Specialties

Through HRC Fertility, Dr. Mandelbaum's practice offers:

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), including frozen embryo transfer
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and ovulation induction
• egg freezing and medical fertility preservation
• donor egg IVF and third-party reproduction
• Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A / PGT-M)
• Oncofertility — fertility preservation before chemotherapy or radiation
• LGBTQ+ family-building and reciprocal IVF
• Recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation

Fertility preservation is a particular academic interest: Dr. Mandelbaum's publication record leans heavily into egg and embryo freezing outcomes, which is relevant for patients who are considering elective freezing or who need urgent preservation ahead of gonadotoxic therapy.

Success Rates and Lab Quality

HRC Fertility reports cycle outcomes to SART and the CDC under clinic code 0754. See the SART Clinic Summary Report and the CDC ART Success Rates report for published live-birth rates by age band and diagnosis. Clinic-level averages blend widely different patient profiles — always compare within your own age group and with your own diagnostic history. Our how to read IVF success rates guide covers the most common interpretation traps.

Patient Experience

Dr. Mandelbaum's Google rating is 5.0 out of 5 across 19 reviews — a small but consistently positive sample for an REI still early in her attending career. Recurring themes in public reviews point to patient-centered communication, willingness to explain the reasoning behind protocol choices, and accessibility during active cycles. Spanish-speaking patients should know that Dr. Mandelbaum is fluent in Spanish, which is not universal among Los Angeles REIs.

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), need an REI for oncofertility or PGT, or your physician has already recommended IVF, a board-eligible/board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.

Insurance and Cost in California

California's SB 729, signed in 2024, expands fertility coverage requirements for many large-group, state-regulated commercial plans — including coverage for IVF. Self-funded (ERISA) employer plans are exempt, and implementation is phasing in for covered plans. HRC Fertility contracts with most major commercial insurers and offers package pricing and financing for out-of-pocket patients; verify benefits before your first consult. See our fertility insurance mandates by state guide and IVF cost by state breakdown.

Location and Contact

West Los Angeles: 11500 Olympic Blvd, Suite 504, Los Angeles, CA 90064 Beverly Hills: 9777 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 600, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Phone (new patients): (866) 472-4483 Phone (West LA current patients): (310) 481-0881 Phone (Beverly Hills current patients): (310) 943-5820 Website: havingbabies.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Mandelbaum accepting new patients? Availability changes throughout the year. Call HRC Fertility's new-patient line at (866) 472-4483 to confirm current wait times and request Dr. Mandelbaum specifically.

Does Dr. Mandelbaum see fertility preservation patients urgently (oncofertility)? HRC Fertility accommodates urgent oncofertility referrals, and fertility preservation is one of Dr. Mandelbaum's published research areas. Patients or referring oncologists should call directly to expedite scheduling.

Does HRC Fertility accept insurance in California? HRC contracts with most major commercial insurers. California's SB 729 expands IVF coverage requirements for many large-group, state-regulated plans — self-funded employer plans are exempt. Always confirm benefits with your plan before the first consult.

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