What To Look For When Choosing A Fertility Clinic

I am often asked how someone should know if they are at the “right” fertility clinic or working with the “right” doctor.

Having seen both sides of a fertility clinic now, as a patient and as an employee, I have a few suggestions of things to look for to help you answer this for yourself. I’ve categorized them below:

• Experience: The clinic should have a team of experienced fertility physicians who are double board-certified (or double-board eligible) in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). The clinic should also have a good track record of success in helping patients achieve pregnancy.

• Success rates: The clinic should be able to provide you with their success rates for the specific fertility treatments you are interested in. You can find this information on the clinic's website, by asking the clinic directly, or by reviewing the clinic’s SART scores. (Keep in mind that SART can be manipulated so read the details on how the scores are reported and shared carefully.)

• Cost: Fertility treatments can be expensive, so it is important to find a clinic that fits your budget and/or takes your insurance. The clinic should be able to provide you with a detailed estimate of the costs of the treatments you are interested in. Most clinics will be able to provide pricing details on their services only, though, so expect additional costs for medication and other specialized services (e.g. PGT).

• Location: The clinic should be located in a convenient location for you. You will need to make frequent visits to the clinic for appointments and procedures, so it is important to choose a clinic that is close to your home or work, with hours that you can accommodate.

• Attitude: The clinic should have a positive and supportive attitude. You will be going through a lot during your fertility journey, so it is important to feel comfortable with the clinic staff and feel like they are on your side.

Once you schedule your initial consultation with the clinic, be prepared to ask questions to get a better idea of how they operate and what you can expect from the experience with them. Some example questions include:

• How often will I see and interact with the physician vs. the nurse or a PA?

• What are your success rates?

• What are your hours of operation? When and where do you schedule monitoring appointments? What about procedures like egg retrieval or frozen embryo transfers (FET)?

• How quickly can I start a treatment cycle? Is there a wait list for any of your procedures?

• Do you offer telehealth appointments and, if so, under what circumstances?

• What happens if there is a cancelled cycle?

• What are your patient satisfaction rates?

• What are your success rates for my specific situation?

• How and when do you determine a particular diagnosis for my situation? How will you communicate that to me?

• Based on the full picture of my family building goals (e.g. how many children you would like to have and over what period of time), what treatment plan would you recommend?

• Do you offer resources for emotional support through the clinic?

• Do you offer financial assistance for your services?

Some important details like the physician’s background and credentials, patient feedback, and locations can be found online on the clinic website and online reviews. Reviewing these resources before your appointment can also spark some additional questions.

I’d love to know what you think of these & what you’d add to this list - share in the comments below!