Number of Treatment Sessions
Now is also a good time to find out about how many treatment sessions you might need to undergo before you see results or move on to a new treatment. While this varies from woman to woman, your doctor should be able to give you a ballpark figure regarding how many times you will try a particular treatment before attempting something new. If your doctor doesn't seem aggressive enough for you, than she may not be the right fit.
Starting Dates
Some clinics only accept a certain number of patients at one time for specific treatments. It is important to ask when you can begin treatment. If you want to start right away, you might not be happy with going to a clinic that needs you to wait until the next treatment cycle begins.
Procedures
One of the most important things to ask is in regards to the performance of procedures. Though your doctor may discuss your treatments with you, he may not actually be there to perform those treatments on your scheduled days. Ask if your doctor uses nurses or nurse practitioners to perform some of his procedures.
The Lab
The lab is one of the most important parts of a fertility clinic. You want to be going to a lab that is fully updated and has all the available technology. Ask if they have a trained embryologist and if they perform blastocyst transfers, assisted hatching, and other techniques. If they don't, don't sign up.
Also ask about when the lab is open. Some clinics close their labs during the summer months, and this could interefere with your schedule.
Doctor Attention
Undergoing fertility treatment can be very taxing and you will have a lot of different questions come up. You won't always be able to wait to ask your doctor these questions at your next appointment. Find out if your doctor will accept phone calls from you at her office.
Success Rates
Success rates are one of the most important things to find out about. After all, you are eager to become pregnant. However, be wary of extremely high success rates. Some doctors overestimate their success rates in order to gain business. This is not to say that you won't become pregnant, but try looking to other sources for information. Ask your friends or gynecologist what they know about the clinic.
Expense
Talking about costs can be difficult sometimes, but it is your right to know everything that you are being charged for. This is especially important if your insurance is not covering your treatments. Ask about the cost of office visits, phone calls, and additional testing.
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