How to Evaluate the Best Fertility Clinic

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Guest post by Dr. Mor

Couples who are interested in having a fertility clinic help them realize their dream of having a child should take their time in evaluating a variety of clinics in order to choose the one that best suits their needs. Many clinics have advertising and marketing programs in place which promise more than they deliver or overwhelm prospective parents with statistics about their success that they cannot prove. Making the decision to have a child with the help of fertility clinic specialists can be an emotional one, but choosing the best fertility clinic should be based on solid facts and information.

The first thing to evaluate is the credibility of the fertility clinic under consideration. Find out how long they have been operating, the experience level of their physicians and personnel and if they have the proper licensing and credentials from state and local health officials. The most reputable fertility clinics are usually those that have been in business for a number of years and can provide references to previous success stories. In addition, it is important to check the published pregnancy rates for a clinic as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Questions to Ask:

• Ask about the policies and ethical guidelines which the clinic follows, which should conform to those of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). 
• Are all of the physicians associated with the fertility clinic board certified specialists in reproductive endocrinology and infertility? 
• Are the physicians affiliated with the clinic full-time staff members who have the time and energy to assist every client rather than part-time staffers whose main job and interests are elsewhere? The best fertility clinics feature full-time physicians who make themselves readily available to answer questions and assist their clients to the fullest extent possible. 

Be wary of clinics that require clients to get fertility procedures done at the convenience of their schedule rather than a time that provides the patient with the highest probability of success for fertilizing eggs.

• Prospective parents should ask about the range of services a fertility clinic offers, which should include facilities to freeze eggs and embryos. The most reputable fertility clinics are happy to provide prospective clients with a tour of their facilities to show off the latest technology in fertility equipment. 
• Ask clinic management how often their equipment is serviced or replaced and also the age of the equipment, as old and outdated equipment and facilities greatly lessen an individual's chance of conceiving. 
• Does the clinic offer a client a choice of treatments rather than relying solely on in vitro fertilization? 
• Does the clinic offer fertility treatments for the father in addition to the mother? 

Talk frankly about the infertility treatment cost and the clinic's payment policies and how failed conception attempts are handled. Fertility treatments can prove to be stressful, so it is important to know if the clinic provides any sort of psychological counseling or referrals.

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Doctor Mor is Board Certified in both Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility and Obstetrics and Gynecology and is the Medical Director of the California Center for Reproductive Health. With extensive research and clinical experience in reproductive medicine and surgery, Dr. Mor is an accomplished fertility expert with more than a decade’s work in the field of infertility and reproductive health. Under Dr. Mor’s leadership, and with a unique and customized approach to each patient and couple, the California Center for Reproductive Health has achieved superior pregnancy rates, far exceeding national averages year after year.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored guest post. The post was written by the sponsor and  all opinions are theirs. To read my full disclosure policy, click here.