When choosing a fertility provider, it’s important that you feel comfortable and confident. Selecting the right fertility provider and clinic often includes researching and asking questions. NewLIFE Fertility has put together some questions to ask yourself when choosing a clinic to help you grow your family. Use them to guide your search for a fertility specialist.
Is the Practice A Member of SART?
As you explore fertility clinics and specialists, check if a clinic is a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). SART is the primary organization of professionals who are dedicated to assisted reproductive technology and techniques like IVF and intrauterine insemination. If a clinic is a member of SART, they are held to the highest level of quality, safety and patient care standards in the fertility industry.
What Are Their Success Rates?
SART also offers patients a chance to explore success rates online for the clinics that are members. You can get a sense of the clinic’s IVF outcomes for a patient’s age group. It's important to note that a comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics, treatment approaches, and entry criteria for ART may vary from clinic to clinic. Importantly, New LIFE Fertility works with a data-analytics partner to estimate ART outcomes based on a patient’s or couple’s specific findings and diagnoses.
What Qualifications Should I Look for In a Fertility Clinic or Specialist?
Your fertility specialist should have completed fellowship training for infertility care, beyond general Ob/Gyn residency training, and be Board Certified as a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist and certified in Ob/Gyn. These credentials require over 11 years of education and specialized training, including:
- Undergraduate school
- Medical school
- A four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ob/gyn)
- An additional three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI)
Board certification in REI assures patients that their physician has received the experience and qualifications to understand and treat all causes of infertility.
What Types of Specialists Do They Have on Staff?
Fertility clinics have many different specialists on staff, including:
- Reproductive Endocrinologists
- Reproductive Surgeons
- Andrologists
- Nurse Practitioners
Some clinics, such as NewLIFE Fertility, have Nurse Practitioners supported by a board-certified REI. This provides patients with the benefit of convenient appointments, enhanced access to their nurse practitioner, and the qualifications of the supporting REI.
Specialists at fertility clinics may have focused interests and research experience in specific kinds of infertility, such as PCOS or endometriosis. If you have a condition that can affect your fertility, finding a specialist in that condition can help increase the odds of success.
Do They Accept My Insurance?
Some fertility treatments may be covered by insurance. Check with the fertility clinics that you’re considering and your insurance company to determine if that practice is in your network.
Do They Offer Payment Assistance Options?
Many fertility clinics have a finance team that can review the costs of fertility treatments with you. Depending on your financial situation and insurance coverage, payment assistance options may be available.
What Hospitals Are They Affiliated With?
Some fertility clinics are affiliated with hospitals, which can offer space for procedures or run labs for the clinic. Affiliation may allow some tests to be covered by your insurance, as well as any visits you may have during your fertility treatment.
Are They Inclusive of My Lifestyle?
If you are a member of the LGBTQ community considering fertility treatments, it’s important to find a clinic that’s accepting. The right clinic can help you navigate any laws around LGBTQ+ family building and help you grow your family with compassion and respect.
Will They Take the Time to Answer My Questions?
Consider how the conversations go when talking to clinic staff for the first time. Are the staff pleasant? Do they answer your questions thoroughly? Do they get back to you promptly if you need to leave a message?
It’s normal to have a lot of questions throughout your fertility journey. A staff that understands that and takes the time to answer your questions can help make the process comfortable.
What's The Size of The Clinic?
The size of the fertility clinic you choose can make a difference in the experience you may have. A larger fertility clinic with multiple specialists on staff may rotate who sees patients at what locations or answer questions that come in on days when you don’t have an appointment. Some patients may prefer to see the same fertility specialist for most of their appointment.
Think about what size clinic you may be comfortable at, and feel free to ask how the size of the clinic impacts patient care.
Is the Fertility Clinic Convenient for Me to Visit?
Fertility treatments require a lot of time. You and your partner, if you have one, will have many appointments to attend in order to monitor progress on fertility treatments.
If your fertility clinic is far away or difficult to get to, this may add additional stress or frustration to your fertility treatment. Some clinics have several locations you can visit, like NewLIFE Fertility, so you can visit a clinic close to home and get the monitoring you need.
What Fertility Treatments Does the Fertility Clinic Offer?
Not every fertility clinic offers all fertility treatments. Finding a clinic that offers a variety of treatments for both men and women can help ensure that your infertility struggles are addressed. A fertility clinic with multiple treatment options can recommend changes to your treatment plan to provide you with the best chance of growing your family.
Are There Support Services Available in Addition to Fertility Treatment?
Fertility treatments can be an emotional experience. Does the fertility clinic offer services or referrals to help support you and your partner through the process? This may include therapists with experience working with clients undergoing fertility treatments, support groups, or workshops on how to reduce stress.
Request an Appointment With One of Our Fertility Specialists
If you’re ready to begin searching for a fertility specialist who can help you grow your family, request an appointment at your local NewLIFE Fertility center. We will do our best to answer all of your questions and ensure you have the information you need to make a decision about your next fertility specialist.
Contact us to request an appointment today.
