Important points for consideration include the qualifications and experience of personnel, types of patients being treated, support services available, cost, convenience, and rate of successful pregnancies. Older programs have established live birth rates based on years of experience. Although new programs won't have as much experience and may still be determining their live birth rates, their personnel may be equally qualified. Patient selection can influence a program's pregnancy rate.
Some patients are more likely to become pregnant than others.
For example, couples over 40 are less likely to get pregnant than younger couples with tubal disease, minimal endometriosis, or unexplained infertility. The range of services offered by a program should also be considered.