10 Top Tips How to Choose Fertility Clinic

If you've been trying to have a baby for more than 6 months now and haven't gotten any results, it's probably time to visit the Fertility Clinic. You have some issues that can be resolved. I am not sure but you might be infertile. Fertility Tests should be done immediately after that you could choose a Treatment that is most convenient for you.

To begin with, at first, You Won’t even believe in Your OB/GYN words, but might be afraid, shocked and experience some anxiety. 

Your OB/GYN may not understand completely your Issue and Advise you to visit a Fertility Clinic. If your OB/GYN advised you to visit a Fertility Clinic, say: ‘Yes’ and give yourself the time to do that. Early morning you were sitting in the office of your OB/GYN, excited to talk about having a baby. Based on something you said in passing, she drew blood as a precaution. She called you soon after to advise you to visit a Fertility Clinic ‘immediately’. Her words confused you so much that you asked her to repeat them. You could not have heard her correctly. You only just started to attempt conception and you were being told to go to fertility doctors? Being emotionally overwhelmed you want to scream at your doctor but feeling scared and lost you told her you would and made an appointment while having no clue what to expect. Are you feeling numb and lost? Or you are just confused and nervous? 

If you said ‘Yes’, Give Yourself the Time to Cope with Your Thoughts About Infertility. It is normal to give yourself at least three business days to glance at the situation from outside and inside. You need the time not only to understand and cope with your frustration but to glimpse through all the opportunities you have. You need the time not only to hide your tears but to start your new life. Before You schedule the Appointment with Fertility Specialist give yourself the Time to Cope with Anger and Frustration. do not schedule the appointment ‘IMMEDIATELY’. Don’t do that. Listen to your doctor with sympathy and have at least three business days to search for the necessary information.

Wondering how should you start searching for the Perfect Fertility Specialist? Take the notebook and multicolored pen or pens, to take the quick notes and create your ‘SEARCHING PLAN’. 

1. Collect the valid and verified information about infertility

What is the essence of infertility? What causes infertility? How to diagnose infertility? When is the right time to see a fertility expert? What is infertility Diagnostic Testing? What is the Treatment Options? Are there any innovations, etc.

Blogs? Conversations? Discussions? Forums? Not only. Infertility stories about personal experiences. Blogs of others who also struggle with infertility. Scientific articles. Clinics’ brochures with explanations. Everything that is valid for you.

Glance through this information. Note down different versions of the answers, expectations, experiences to glimpse into the situation, to analyze, to compare, to have the time for your own thoughts about that.

2. Create the ‘SEARCHING LIST’ for Fertility Clinics

Just Google the ‘Fertility Clinics’ in your location. How many are there? Ten, twenty, thirty, or even more? Open first ten links. Have a fleeting glimpse of them? What can you say? Everything looks ‘PERFECT’, doesn’t it? Everything is glowing, glittering and sparkling. Pastel colors. Stylish furniture. Wonderful flowers. Smiling medical staff in white coats. Thousands of ideal reviews from the patients. Everything ‘SCREAMS’: ‘We are the best clinic! Our results are beyond your imagination.’ Do you believe in this ‘IDEAL STORY?’ Neither do I.

It is impossible that there is an ideal clinic. It is impossible that everywhere and everything is identical. Working hours are not the same. The rules are not the same. Fertility Tests are not the same. Meds are not the same. Treatment Plans are not the same. Treatment methods are not the same. Treatment Protocols are not the same. Treatment Options [even if proposed under the same name ‘IUI’, ‘ICSI’, ‘IVF’, and so on] are not the same. Prenatal Screening is not the same. Monitoring is not the same. Prices are not the same. everything is different. Got the idea?

So, you need the ‘SEARCHING LIST’. It should be created according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. What information should you include in the ‘SEARCHING LIST’?

1. Clinic’s name [some clinics have the similar or identical names but different locations];
2. Clinic’s locations [some clinics have their satellite clinics];
3. Clinic’s contact information [telephone number of the reception, nurse on duty, and number for emergency];
4. Clinic’s email address [to send the requests, to schedule the appointments, to receive the results];
5. Fertility Testing options, Fertility Screening [procedures, prices];
6. Is there the laboratory? Are all the tests done in the clinic’s laboratory or you should go somewhere else?
7. Treatment Options [and underline those you are interested in, their prices];
8. Information about the doctor you are interested in [name, surname, job title, working hours, contact information];
9. Additional information [events, seminars, prenatal yoga classes, birth classes, something else];
10. The space for your notes [what you like, what you dislike, what you would like].

Caught the great idea? Complete your ‘SEARCHING LIST’ with information and glance through that. There are no identical things, are there? But you can clearly understand now what is good for you, don’t you?

3. Download the Glossary of medical terms not only to open on your laptop from time to time

Using the iPhone or Android app, download the glossary of Infertility–related medical terms the doctors use. Really helpful thing. Your consultations will be based on the conversations with your doctor who loves all these weird terms. And you should understand at least basically those things not to say ‘YES’ and after that regret, because it was something you desired to experience the least.

4. Create the ‘QUESTION LIST’

Every time you have the thought of something that needs the doctor’s answer, write it down. All questions that you have. All of them. Without the distinguishing line: ‘For the first consultation’, ‘For the second one’, ‘Questions I should ask in one month’. No, don’t do that. List everything you are wondering about. List everything you are embarrassed about. List everything you are nervous about. List even those you would never ask because of the ethics, or because you are ashamed to pronounce them. You need the answers. Think only about the answers.

I strongly recommend you include these challenging questions that would never ask at the start of your journey. These questions will show you the doctor’s experience. They are vital to be asked. 

1. What data exists to back up what you are recommending?
2. What tests are not necessary but just recommended?
3. What flexible Treatment Plans can you propose me?
4. What can be changed in my Treatment Plan?
5. What side effects these medications have?
6. What will be if I refuse to do that? Do you have the alternatives for this test?
7. What is different now to lead you to believe the procedure will work this time?
8. What tests have we not considered even if they don’t seem to be obvious ones?
9. What will we do differently next time should the procedure fail?
10. What are you not telling me?

Print at least ten copies of your question list. Take your question list every time you have the consultation with the doctor. You will be amazed how this question list ‘DOES ITS JOB’. Keep it as your secret. Anytime you want to compare different versions of answers from different specialists, different Treatment Plans, different Treatment Protocols, even your tests with different results, just scan them through. Caught the idea?

5. Call the receptionists of all Fertility Clinics you have chosen

Contact the Fertility Clinics via phone calls. Ask the reception about the doctors you have chosen and their working hours. Write this information in your notebook near the doctors’ names and surnames. But don’t schedule the consultation immediately. You need more information about the doctors, and you need some time for that.

6. Ask to send you the additional information about tests and Treatment Options via email

Calling to the Fertility Clinics ASK is it possible to glance through the leaflets, brochures, or magazines about tests and Treatment Options. And ask is it possible to send you the information via email.

7. Ask the Fertility Clinic about Free Seminars about Fertility Treatment Options

If the Fertility Clinic has these EVENTS, ask the receptionist about the dates and time, and if it is comfortable for you, ask to enroll you also. Do not forget to ask about future events. If they have more Seminars or other Events, even paid ones, ask them about the ‘SEMINARS’ or EVENTS’ SCHEDULE’. If it is possible to be sent via email, surely ask.

8. Is there some paperwork you should bring with you for the first consultation

Find out is there the list of documents, health certificates, or, probably medical card and so on that you must bring to the Fertility Clinic for the first consultation.

9. Should you have done the blood tests or other tests before the consultation? 

Ask the receptionist should you have the results of some tests. If ‘YES’, note down which ones.

10. Ask the information about the first consultation

How to schedule the first consultation? Is there the exact time should I call you to schedule? After this first consultation, if I decide to enroll myself for Fertility Testing and Treatment, will this doctor be available, or will there be seasonal vacations/congresses/conferences and it would be impossible to contact him/her? If I cannot contact directly this doctor, does he/she have an assistant to contact in emergency cases? How much does the consultation cost?

CONCLUSION

Infertility is a very common, but utterly delicate problem, emotional and very personal one, therefore it often lurks in the shadows. Despite the outstanding medical innovations, sympathy, and understanding, infertility is still a taboo discussion. It turns you into the bundle of nerves and creates a strong sense of isolation, anger and complete loss of self–worth. Probably you are extremely confused by the thought that infertility is the greatest thing that could have ever happened to you? Or maybe you are just lost and the only question you are asking yourself about is: ‘What is wrong with me?’ And you shouldn’t feel this way. Just start with choosing the Fertility Clinic. And you have the choise. Choose at least three Fertility Clinics for the initial [FIRST CONSULTATIONS]. If it is necessary, choose more clinics. You need to ‘COLLECT’ the opinions and to compare them. But, please, schedule the first consultation after reading the next article: ‘10 Top Tips How to Choose the Best Reproductive Endocrinologist/Immunologist for IVF’. it will save your time, nerves, and money.