Finding a good fertility clinic can often seem like an overwhelming task, because there’s a lot to consider when looking for a clinic that meets your needs. For instance, you may prefer a smaller, more intimate clinic with fewer providers, while someone else may want to receive care from a larger clinic with more provider choices and perhaps more services offered. You may feel that a clinic that takes your insurance is top priority, while someone else prefers to shop around for the best “feel” and success rates.
The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) website is a good place to start your search for clinics. Here are some factors to consider when it comes to choosing an IVF clinic you feel comfortable with.
Available financial options
One of the biggest factors that people consider when it comes to choosing a fertility clinic is cost. Unfortunately, treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) aren’t usually covered by insurance and can be expensive; only 19 states actually provide fertility coverage. And even if your insurance does cover certain clinics, it doesn’t mean you need to stick with those if other clinics better suit your preferences.
One of the biggest factors that people consider when it comes to choosing a fertility clinic is cost.
The average cost of a single IVF cycle averages over $12,000. It’s a good idea to look into the options clinics offer for payment plans and financing.
Some questions you can ask at a prospective clinic include:
- What are the costs of the different fertility treatments you offer?
- What can I expect to pay for pre-treatment testing? (Depending on the clinic, this may or may not be included in the overall cost of IVF.)
- How much do fertility medications cost? (Again, this may or may not be included in the overall cost of IVF.)
Fertility providers and staff
Doctors who have completed additional years of training pertaining to infertility are board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and in reproductive endocrinology. They can also be members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
A clinic with numerous skilled doctors might be appealing to you, as it usually means the clinic is successful. But you may also prefer the feel of a smaller clinic with fewer doctors.
When considering clinics, you can ask questions such as:
- Will I be assigned to one doctor, or will I have multiple doctors depending on who is on call that day?
- How often will I meet with my doctor?
- Whom do I contact if I have questions during the process or need test results?
Take some time to think about how the answers to these and other questions fit with your own preferences to determine whether a certain clinic might be a good fit. Feel free to also compare different clinics’ responses.
Fertility treatments and success rates
The SART website, in addition to helping you find clinics, is also a good place to look up success rates. These rates vary from clinic to clinic. You can use the search feature on the SART website to find clinics and view their statistics from 2019, which is the most updated data collected as of now.
Success rates take into account:
- The number of cycles a clinic does every year
- How many of those cycles result in live births
- How many embryos are transferred for each cycle (transferring more than one embryo increases the chances of having multiples)
Clinics should also be available to answer your questions about their success rates in a consultation. If they don’t provide them, or the data is not available on their website, it may be a warning sign their rates aren’t very good.
Sometimes the best way to understand this experience is to visit the clinic in person.
You can also ask about:
- Testing that needs to be completed before treatments begin
- The timeframe of fertility procedures and how soon you can begin
- Side effects you could experience with fertility treatments and medications
- Why your doctor recommends certain testing or treatments
- Whether there are age or body mass index (BMI) cutoffs where your treatment options could be limited
The clinic environment
You could be spending a lot of time at a fertility clinic, from sitting in the waiting room to having blood work done in the lab and attending appointments with your doctor or nursing staff. You want to feel comfortable with the clinic itself and the overall environment. Sometimes the best way to understand this experience is to visit the clinic in person, if possible, when choosing an IVF clinic.
Are the staff friendly, or do you feel rushed when you’re there? You will also have to consider the location of the clinic and any travel time involved. Some clinics offer additional support such as counselors and well-being classes like support groups, fertility yoga, or meditation.
Finding a good fertility clinic that meets your needs can take time, so try not to rush the process.
Some questions you can ask include:
- Is there a laboratory on-site? It might be more of a hassle to coordinate having your test results sent over from another lab.
- Do you have an andrology clinic for those who are dealing with male infertility?
- Is IVF done in the clinic or at the hospital?
- Does the clinic perform procedures on weekends and holidays, or just during normal business hours?
Finding a good fertility clinic that meets your needs can take time, so try not to rush the process. Word of mouth can be a great way to get recommendations, so consider asking friends and family who have gone through fertility treatments what clinic they used and whether they liked their experience there.
Don’t forget that your gut feeling can be a reliable indicator, so ask lots of questions, talk it over with your partner, and take notes.
You may be spending several months to years at your clinic, so you want to feel good about your decision. And don’t be afraid to get a second opinion if the clinic you initially chose is no longer working out. You are your own best advocate for your fertility care.