Write an article based on this "Ask friends and family for recommendations. Create a list of clinics you want to evaluate. Schedule an initial consultation with 3 to 4 clinics. Ask the same questions at each clinic. Compare the clinics to make your final decision."
If you have friends or family members who have had IVF treatment before, talk to them about the clinic they used. Because they know you, they may have a recommendation for a place where you would feel comfortable. Getting IVF treatment means opening up and dealing with sensitive personal issues. You want to make sure that you feel comfortable and at ease in the IVF clinic where you get treatment. You also want to make sure that the doctors and nurses at the IVF clinic are people you get along with and feel comfortable around. They will help you feel less stressed about the whole situation. Before you decide on an IVF clinic, check out several so you can compare them and choose the best one that suits both your needs, your personality, and your budget. You can find some possibilities through an online search or a discussion with your gynecologist. Factors to consider when making your list include: Types of treatment offered Eligibility criteria Cost Location Ratings and reviews Birth and multiple birth rates Availability of counseling Most clinics offer a free initial consultation, during which they'll talk about the clinic and introduce you to some of the staff. You'll have the opportunity to ask the doctors questions and learn more about the treatments and services the clinic offers. You can also get a better idea of how well you get along with the people there and whether you feel comfortable in the clinic setting. Many clinics provide online consultations if you're not able to travel to the clinic's location immediately. Before you attend your initial consultations, make a list of questions to ask. If you ask the same questions at every clinic, you have a way to compare them more efficiently. Potential questions to ask include: What medications will I have to take? Can I get my own medications elsewhere or do I have to get them from you? How many times will I need to visit the clinic? What kind of counseling do you provide? How many counseling sessions are included in the overall price? Can you break down the costs of treatment? Are there any other costs that might arise? After you've had your initial consultations, take a look at the answers to your questions and use them to decide which clinic would be the best fit for you. Take how you felt about each clinic and its staff into consideration. Don't rely solely on cost. The cheapest IVF clinic might not necessarily be the best one for you. If your IVF isn't successful, it could end up costing you more in the long term. Be wary of IVF clinics that advertise better-than-average success rates. Although this might seem like a good thing, it usually indicates that the clinic is being less than honest about how they measure their success rate.