Choosing Fertility Clinic: What to Check First

Picking a fertility clinic feels overwhelming, but a few clear checks cut the confusion fast. Start by deciding what matters most to you—location, price, success rates, or emotional support. Knowing your priorities helps you compare clinics without getting lost in marketing talk.

What to check before you pick a clinic

Ask about accreditation and lab standards. In many countries reputable clinics belong to national or regional registries that publish outcomes. If a clinic won’t share verified success rates by age, that’s a red flag. Look for transparency: published rates, what counts as a cycle, and how they handle cancelled cycles.

Meet the team or at least get detailed bios. The experience of the doctors and embryologists matters. Ask how many procedures they perform each year and whether the same embryologist handles your embryos. A steady, experienced lab staff usually means fewer mistakes.

Costs and hidden fees vary widely. Get an itemized quote: consultations, meds, monitoring scans, procedures, anesthesia, embryo freezing and storage, and tests. Ask how they handle failed cycles—do they offer refunds, packages, or discounted follow-ups? Also check financing and insurance options.

Services offered should match your needs. Do they do IVF, ICSI, IUI, egg or sperm donation, genetic testing, or fertility preservation? If you need donor eggs or a gestational carrier, make sure the clinic has those pathways in place and clear legal support.

Check patient support and communication. Good clinics explain risks and alternatives clearly, answer questions promptly, and offer counseling. Emotional support matters—look for on-site or referred counselors, support groups, and clear phone or portal access to staff.

Questions to ask on your first visit

What are the clinic’s live birth rates by age group? How do they define a “cycle”? What’s their policy on embryo transfer number and single embryo transfer? How do they minimize multiple pregnancy risks?

Ask about lab quality: Do they use time-lapse embryo incubators? Who performs ICSI and embryo grading? What are their contamination and backup power procedures? These practical details affect success.

Clarify the medication plan and monitoring schedule so you can budget time and travel. Ask for a full cost breakdown and typical extra charges. Get written estimates for storage fees if you plan to freeze eggs or embryos.

Watch for warning signs: clinics that promise guarantees, pressure you into expensive add-ons, or avoid answering outcome questions. Also be cautious if staff are hard to reach or dismiss your concerns.

Finally, trust your gut. Good data and clear answers matter, but you also need to feel respected and heard. Take notes, compare two or three clinics, and bring a partner or friend to appointments. With a checklist and a few solid questions, you’ll pick a clinic that fits your medical needs and your comfort level.