Choosing the Right Fertility Center

So you think you have a problem with fertility? You’ve been trying to get pregnant and it just isn’t happening. You believe you’ve given yourself enough time to conceive naturally so you want to do a little more investigating as to why you haven’t been able to get your family started.

As thousands upon thousands of women across the world do each year, you’ve decided to turn to a fertility center for help. Whether it’s a problem with you and your reproductive system or with your husband or partner, a fertility center can help solve the mystery as to why you’re not pregnant yet.

But how do you choose the right one, especially if there are many in your area from which you can choose?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a fertility center and – remember – you don’t need to go with the first one you visit. Here are some things to think about.

Do you connect with the doctor(s)?

While the word “connect” isn’t a technical term here, women (and men) feel best about seeing a doctor to whom they can relate on an emotional level. If you interview a fertility specialist and feel that he or she is rather cold and difficult to relate to, it’s time to move on to the next interview.

You’re going to be spending lots of time at this fertility center and with this doctor, so you need to be comfortable with this person from the start. It’s okay to interview several doctors before you make a decision.

What does this fertility center offer?

All fertility clinics are not created equal. Some practices have multiple physicians that each have their own specialty. Others do not. Some have very extensive facilities, like on-site IVF labs, while others outsource. Choose the one that you believe offers the most options and will be most convenient for you.

Ask about costs

Fertility treatment can be very costly, especially when it’s not covered by your healthcare insurance. So, inquire as to the costs upfront. You might even check out the fertility center’s website and see if they address costs from the start. Many do, and some offer things like “all-inclusive” IVF treatment cycles that bundle ALL costs involved so that there aren’t any surprises when the bills arrive.

Many practices also have financial counselors on hand to help you sift through what can be a long list of costs involved with treatment.

Seek references

Sure, anyone can post positive references on their website. You won’t likely see the negative ones! So, do dig around a little and see what other feedback you can find, and ask friends and friends of friends who’ve been through the infertility thing to tell you about their experiences with particular practices.

And remember…

Fertility centers and their physicians can work with your infertility issues but they can’t perform miracles. You’ll no doubt find clients who are angry at their doctors because they didn’t conceive, but you won’t always hear the story behind it.

A good team of fertility specialists will do their best to find and tackle complex medical issues that may stop you from becoming pregnant, but they won’t always be successful. It’s a fact of life. If you enter this with an open mind and the realization that if you choose a great team of doctors who will do their best to get your family started, it’ll be a much more pleasant experience.