Ricki Pollycove, MD

Treating your health is important, no matter the cost. Finding the right doctor, is having a lifelong friend. (Who knows much more then everyone else!) Dr. Pollycove is such an amazing doctor, she listens, helps, is honest, and gives the best advice. I can’t understand the previous reviews, but maybe I’m biased because I have known her for years. (Teens to current, I am 26 now) You can count on a longer then normal appointments with her, which is nice considering you are paying out of pocket. If you are looking for a yearly OBGYN or someone to trust, go to her office! It feels like home, I promise you won’t regret it. and lets not forget the awesome staff who works there. Front desk, and her medical assistant Noreen are very helpful and kind. I would 100% recommend her at any cost, heck it’s your health! Thank you Dr. Pollycove for being the best doctor yet!

I saw Dr. Pollycove for years and really trusted her and loved every one of my visits. She was personal, engaged, concerned, spent an unusual amount of time listening and attending during each annual exam (that’s all I saw her for), but she just got too expensive for me. I couldn’t see paying $ 750.00 a year just to be on her patient list. Appointments were also on the higher end, and no insurance accepted. Oh well.

I have been going to Dr. Pollycove for over 10 years and my teen daughter started with her too. However, she’s just gotten too expensive for us. She doesn’t take insurance so when you file your own, it’s always «out of network» so you basically end up paying the whole thing yourself, and now she has a $ 750 per person fee on top it annually. I can’t justify that when I see her maybe twice a year. She is always late too. The staff is very nice and so is she. But it’s just too much…

I’ve been a patient of Dr. Pollycove for several years, and have sen her for the usual pelvic exam and breast exams. I needed a new Doctor in this area of expertise, as I had been traveling a longer distance to my long time Internist in a former town, and a new friend recommended Dr. Pollycove. I liked what she told me about the research she had done on the subject of Estrogen Therapy. I am 69 years of age and fairly active, and I credit the Estrotest drugs she has prescribed for me these many years. I get from her th usual mammogram requests each year. Before I received Medicare at age 65, I always paid cash from my earnings for everything, since Th only insurance I carried was a $ 2500 deductible. Since Medicare doesn’t cover Estratest, I pay out of pocket for that, as well as the annual visit to her. This request for an additional fee of $ 750.00 catches me short. I don’t have that kind of income. I believe it would have been better to at least have some alternatives mapped out for those of us who are pretty entrenched in the Estratest Therapy. I mean what are the side effects of being dropped from this therapy ‘cold turkey?’. I certainly will make other arrangements for my mammograms and hopefully continuation for the drug prescription. I’ve been very healthy on the regimen Dr. Pollycove has directed, and I have no complaints about her efficacy as a Doctor. However, there is this ultimatum for what I consider a very inflated amount of money which is disproportionate to the service. I am after all just one person with a limited income and not an HMO or an Insurance provider. No hard feelings. I simply have to find another dealer, if you will.

Dr Ricki is one of the most caring, unassuming, gentle physicians I have every had the pleasure to know. Her kind, caring demeanor is very reassuring at a time of crisis. I do not live in the Bay area where she is located and drive 4.5 hours each way for her care. Her staff is amazing and it is truly a pleasure to see her.

I was a patient for nearly 15 years. I have a huge investment with her. She knows about my medical history more than any other doctor out there. This morning I called to make an appointment for a mammogram and was told about her new $ 750 surcharge just to get in to see her. I was shocked, especially coming from Dr. Ricki Pollycove, a self-​proclaimed champion of women’s health – breast care in particular. Instead, she is just another medical mercenary – who only treats the 1 per centers– pretending to be a real doctor. For all that she gets one star, but only because I couldn’t figure out how to make it one-​half.

Please go to a doctor who cares about your health, not Dr. Pollycove. I was prescribed a pill called Yaz when I was 15, however reports began coming out a few years later that Yaz was dangerous and could cause death. I went to Dr. Pollycove to ask for a different medication– there were many safer alternatives out on the market. She refused my request to switch pills and something she said about how she knew people who sold the drug, which made me wonder if her personal connections were clouding her judgement. Even if she believed that the pills were safe, she should have been ok with switching the prescription (to a safer drug) to make a patient more comfortable. There are so many options for birth control on the market and most do not have serious side affects. It turns out now that there is a recall for yaz and there was a lawsuit because so many girls had heart problems and died from taking the pills. I do not qualify for monetary compensation (unless I too have a heart problem soon). However my heart is weaker today because of these pills and I could have more problems later in life, die younger, or if anything else compromises my heart, then it could give out. I do not blame Dr. Pollycove for prescribing this medication, many doctors did not knowing the consequences, but once reports on the dangers came out she should have considered that not all patients would feel comfortable. I was charged $ 225 for the appointment and she did not even change my prescription– a prescription that had I kept taking could have killed me. Please find a doctor who cares about you and your concerns and who will prescribe the safest drugs, not the ones that she has connections with the pharmaceutical companies that sell them.

Dr. Pollycove is as good as it gets. An excellent physician, someone who will give you her personal cell phone number if she is following you for a problem that may require her immediate involvement. Caring, knowlegeable and excellent knowledge of referral physicians. Tip: sometimes it takes a couple of appointments to become established and on her radar (so my friends that I have referred to her tell me). So, do not necessarily expect immediate connection, but once it is there, it will be an enormously important relationship for your health and mental wellbeing.

I think Dr. Pollycove sucks. She is one of the worst doctors I have been to. I went to her because people say she is into natural healing and treating the whole body, but I found nothing to be further from the truth. She pushed into having a Nuva Ring without explaining what it was or how it worked, even after I told her I didn’t want any hormonal birth control. When I called the office because it was causing me severe pain, they prescribed me pain killers. I whole-​heartedly believe her advice should have been to take it out. However, the worst thing is that she suggested I get a ring put on my stomach to help me lose weight without asking me any questions, doing any tests, or conversing with me about anything relative to it. She just assumed I was shoving buckets of food in my mouth and the ring would help me eat less. Ummm… how is that treating the whole body?

Just an update to my last posting here. One thing that does bother me is that I don’t always get a timely call-​back when I call with an concern. Not sure if they are just so busy or what, but I’ve now been waiting 2−½ days to hear back from my initial call and a subsequent follow-​up email (which Katie recommended to me as a faster way to get a response.) Since these delays have happened in the past, I thought it was worth noting here.

I found Ricki about 6 – 7 years ago and I feel like she saved my life. After trying a myriad of ob/​gyns, gyns, GPs and others over the years, I was disillusioned about finding someone who would actually be «present» with me — genuinely listen to my problems and work hard to find answers — even if they weren’t easy, quick or pat. Life isn’t TV, there is no «House» out there who won’t quit until they find the answer… but Ricki has come close and is clearly committed to me as a patient. Tracey and Katie are great and always remember me (and I don’t call that often anymore).
My only (small) complaint would be that, given that the practice doesn’t handle insurance claims for you (you have to do the paperwork yourself which, I have to admit, is a growing trend and does allow everyone there to focus on what they are really good at…) but — given that — I do wish it was easier to reach them right away when needed rather than wait for a return call. That’s one of the things I would hope for in return. But it’s a small price to pay for what I consider to be one of the only practices I have found that exemplifies true, quality, personal health care.

you couldn’t find a better, more knowledgeable gynecologist specializing in perimenopause and menopausal issues.
She is worth every penny.

I agree, you can’t go cheap when it’s about your downstairs mix-​up. I’ve been seeing her for a good ten years, and she’s worth every penny I’ve spent there. (Yes, they’re pretty pennies.) The fact that she is so knowledgeable about current medical developments and alternative therapies and listens to how you want to treat your body means so much. She treats you like a person and a whole person at that. I don’t ever plan on seeing anyone else.
Oh, and as far as her staff doing the follow-​up work, she’s had the same two or three women on staff for years now. They work as a team!
And, as for the person who asked why all the best doctors feign to work with insurance companies? Because insurance companies are for-​profit jerks who prevent them from providing the best service, IMHO.

My last horror pelvic sent me running to Pollycove since friends and family love her. The exam was great, she’s gentle and very communicative. She said I had a cute cervix. So I spent $ 800 for a compliment?
I had prepared myself for the «pushing «of colleagues for stress management and even eye care – there’s a lot of business networking going on there… backs getting scratched, etc.
The doctor never phoned with pap/​blood test results. When I phoned, the receptionist took time to go over the test results with me. That really surprised me that a doctor would entrust someone else to do that.
All in all, the doctor seemed great. Nice if I felt like I got my money’s worth, but that was my decision. I will probably go back, just for the painless exam and caring demeanor.

Dr. Pollycove is the only gyno worth going to in my opinion, but be prepared to pay, (she is worth EVERY penny, I mean come on folks, this is your HEALTH).
Not only is she sweet and personable, which is something you really want when someone is down there, I mean it’s an awkward situation, so having a nice doc makes up for it. She is also VERY knowledgeable, and is always up to date on new studies and new forms of treatment.
D. Pollycove asks about your life, and is genuinely interested. Her approach to health is the whole body, so if something is going on mentally, like stress, she will connect that to how your down there is feeling…
I wouldn’t go any where else, and have recommended her to all my friends. If you want to have a doc that really cares, go to Dr. Pollycove…

I am grateful, both as a patient and a healthcare provider, that we have physicians who actively partner to find solutions other than medication and surgery… who think outside the box, are curious, generous with their knowledge, and caring… this is Dr. Pollycove at her best. It’s also true that she doesn’t take insurance… however, given a choice between another dinner out or another new pair of shoes vs. gaining insight and confidence about my longterm health, I’d rather pay for a jewel to help me live better and have concern for my «wellness», than see someone who defines their job more narrowly and is less curious. Dr. Pollycove is a jewel, and her intelligence and committment provides guidance worth experiencing!

The most massively self promoting doctor I’ve ever met. Lots of new age happy talk, but very poor real medical skills. Almost always pushes women into having surgery for benign uterine conditions. And let’s not forget that Pollycove is VERY expensive and does not take insurance. Save your money and go to a doctor that is medically competent and is taking care of you – not lining her own pocket.

I have been seeing Dr. Pollycove since she was almost fresh out of medical school. She continues to be the warmest, most effective and interested doctor I have. She has successfully diagnosed and treated me for various things and is one of those rare doctors who acknowledge the contribution of integrative medicine. She delivered my son. Yes, she is worth it – current with medical literature, specialist in fertility and extremely knowledgeable about breast health, superlative credentials. We can’t afford to gamble on our health – ultimately it’s not about cancellation policies. Available, kind, reassuring, warm – treats the whole woman. Favorite quote of hers: «Behind every uterus is an interesting woman!»

Yeah, she’s expensive, but don’t you want the best when you’re in the stirrups?

5 stars and then some, as a doctor.
She’s extremely bright, funny, intuitive, helpful, reasonable and wonderful.
0 stars for the payment portion. You have to pay her, upfront and then bill your insurance yourself.
Why do all the BEST doctors and dentists do this?
I never got a reminder that it was time for my next appointment, something that is totally common at even the most bare bones of OBGYN offices… not sure what happened there, but I still think the doctor is great.
I will be looking elsewhere, however, to have insurance cover my needs. Bummer.