Fertility clinics are a booming business. When couples want to become parents, their fertility takes a hit. As of 2010, the average age for women to have their first child had risen to 25.7 years old – up from 21 in 1976. Women also have an average of 130 eggs in their ovaries at the time they're born, down from 400 a generation ago. These factors have led to more demand for fertility services. This is good news, given that research indicates that the quality of care provided by clinics can significantly affect success rates among patients. Here are five tips for choosing the right fertility clinic for your needs:

 

Ask for a meeting before you sign up.

 

Before you sign any contracts while choosing the right fertility clinic, request a meeting with the clinic's doctors and staff to learn more about their approach to fertility treatment. This can be helpful in two ways: You've avoided a costly mistake and ensured that the clinic best fits you and your needs. ASRM guidelines indicate that the best clinics use a team approach to care. That means that rather than having one doctor oversee all aspects of your treatment, you have a team of experts working together to provide you with the best care. Ideally, this team includes nurses, mental health and nutrition specialists, and embryologists. By having a team approach to care, clinics are better able to tailor their care to each individual couple's needs.

 

Check accreditation and licensing.

 

Checking the accreditation and licensing while choosing the right fertility clinic will help ensure that it meets certain standards of care. This can help ensure that your clinic operates ethically and provides safe treatment. Fertility clinics are required to be accredited by the Joint Commission, which oversees the safety of many healthcare providers. They're also required to be licensed by the state in which they practice. In addition to state licensing, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees payments made to fertility clinics. At the same time, the FDA regulates the manufacture of fertility drugs. The ASRM also provides a list of best practices for fertility clinics, which can be helpful in checking accreditation and licensing.

 

Beware of marketing traps.

 

Whether looking for a clinic via word of mouth or online, you'll have to navigate marketing traps. And sadly, there are many clinics that don't provide an honest picture of the services they offer. While there are no regulations around advertising fertility services, many clinics have a lot of leeway in how they present themselves to potential patients. Here are a few red flags to watch for. First, clinics that advertise a 100 percent success rate are likely misleading you. There is no guaranteed success rate when it comes to fertility procedures, as every couple and every situation is different. Second, clinics that promise quick results are probably overselling treatments. It takes time for fertility treatments to take effect. A clinic that promises quick results is probably just as likely to disappoint as they are to satisfy. Finally, clinics that advertise "no wait" or "walk-in" appointments are probably offering a different kind of service than the one you're looking for.

 

Look at the success rates.

 

This one is obvious, but it's an important one. Success rates are a great way to see how a fertility clinic stacks up against others. One of the best ways to find success rates is to go to the clinics' websites and search for them (though this can be misleading because clinics often adjust their website information to hide their success rates.) Another way is to find articles written about the clinics and do your research from there. Success rates vary between clinics for various reasons, and those differences can significantly impact the outcomes of your treatment. For example, the type of patient a clinic attracts can greatly impact its success rates. Success rates also vary depending on the treatment you're receiving. In general, the average success rate across all types of treatments is 10 to 15 percent. Success rates can vary significantly between clinics, so be sure to research and find one that's right for you.

 

Check for screenings

 

Ask about screening and counseling practices. Some clinics screen patients for certain risk factors, such as smoking or obesity, that can make it harder to become pregnant. They may also ask couples about their sexual histories, mental health, diet, sleep, and other lifestyle factors. These screenings and questionnaires aren't required – but they're a good idea. Their one-way clinics can help improve success rates by finding factors affecting patients' ability to conceive. Screenings and questionnaires can also help couples identify factors that might be getting in the way of their ability to conceive. If a couple fails a screening, they may be offered a counseling session to help identify and correct any issues affecting their ability to conceive. Screenings and questionnaires can be helpful in identifying issues that might be preventing a couple from getting pregnant. They're also helpful in identifying factors preventing a couple from staying pregnant once they conceive.

 

Ask about costs and financing.

 

Finally, you'll want to ask about costs and financing. Although fertility treatment costs vary from clinic to clinic, they can be expensive. The average cost of one round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is $12,000. When you're researching clinics, be sure to ask about financing options and what financial assistance each clinic offers. Some clinics are more generous than others in terms of financial assistance. You can also check out online financing options to help you make payments for fertility treatment. Fertility clinics also often offer payment plans, which can be helpful in making the expenses more manageable. If you're planning to finance fertility treatment, make sure to begin researching financing options as soon as you start exploring clinics. The longer you wait, the less likely you'll be to find financing that works for you.

 

Conclusion

 

Choosing the right fertility clinic has much to do with your personal needs and preferences. It's important to know what they offer and understand how they operate. Are there particular doctors that you want to work with? Does it offer the treatments you're interested in? Does it have convenient hours and locations? Once you've explored your options, you'll be able to make an informed decision about which clinic is best for you. It is vital that you make the right decision because it will impact your family's whole future life. You should not take any actions in haste. Consider all your choices before you and then take the necessary steps. Along the way, it is also advisable to talk to some healthcare providers who can help you to make the best decision in choosing the right fertility clinic.