 What are the credentials and training of the IVF staff and is the clinic affiliated with an academic medical center?

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SUCCESS RATES:

 

 Does the clinic report data to SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, a special interest group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine)?

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 When did the clinic start offering ART?

 

 How many egg retrievals has the clinic performed in the last twelve months?

 

 How many patients underwent embryo transfers in the last year? In the last month?

 

 How many clinical pregnancies (confirmed by ultrasound and fetal heartsounds) has the clinic had relative to the number of embryos transferred?

 

 How many live births has the clinic had relative to the number of embryos transferred?

 

 How many of these were multiple pregnancies?

 

 What is the miscarriage rate for the program?

 

 If you are over 40 or if there is a male factor infertility diagnosis, ask about the number of egg retrievals and embryo transfers and clinical pregnancy rates for this category.

 

 If you have a diagnosis, ask what the success rates are for that particular diagnosis.

 

 Ask if the clinic has criteria for women with elevated cycle day 3 FSH or estradiol levels.

 

SERVICES AND COSTS:

 

 What tests, if any, will be repeated by the clinic prior to starting an ART cycle?

 

 Does the clinic have its own lab director? If not, how many labs does the director supervise?

 

 What are the clinic hours and lab hours? This is important if you work and need ultrasounds, etc., done before going to work. Is the lab open weekends and holidays?

 

 Does the clinic have satellite offices closer to you, where you can be monitored?

 

 When in the cycle does the clinic start ovulation induction protocols?

 

 Does the clinic use drugs to suppress your hormones (Lupron, Ganirelix Acetate Injection, Cetrotide,) before or during ovulation stimulation?

 

 If you desire, will the clinic consider minimal stimulation cycles to reduce the amount of drugs used?

 

 Does the clinic culture the embryos to blastocyst stage?

 

 Does the clinic offer micromanipulation techniques? If so, which ones are available (ICSI or assisted hatching)?

 

 Can you choose to donate any excess eggs to a donor egg pool to be used by other hopeful parents?

 

 Does the clinic have an embryo donation policy or program should you desire not to use your remaining frozen embryos?

 

 Will the clinic freeze extra embryos? At what stage in cell division is this done?

 

COSTS:

 

 What does each cycle cost, including drugs, etc.? How much is covered by insurance? Do you have to pay up front or can you pay in installments? If a cycle is canceled because of poor ovulation response, what is your financial responsibility?

 

 Does the clinic offer any package plans, shared risk plans, or work with any financing plans?

 

SUPPORT SERVICES:

 

 Are there counseling services or recommended therapists who work with your center?

 

 Does the clinic have a "contact system" of patients who have completed their program, successfully or not, with whom you can speak?

 

 Is there an intake appointment? Will you meet with a doctor, nurse, therapist and/or financial manager? What are the fees for these appointments?

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 If there are injection and orientation classes offered, what is the fee and are they required?