Starting down the road to parenthood is exciting and often times, very emotional.
My guess is you have been thinking about taking that leap and are wanting to go see a fertility specialist. I can completely relate and I know this can be a daunting task.
How much will this cost?
What should I expect?
What if it’s me? What if it’s my partner?
How do I know which one to go to?
The questions go on and on!! I will help guide you through all those questions but for today, let’s start with the first step and answer, HOW DO I KNOW WHICH CLINIC TO CHOOSE?
More and more clinics are opening up and you want to make sure you find the right doctor and the right clinic for you and your partner with all those options out there.
I know you are eager to get going and make that appointment because I have been there. But before you pick up that phone and make your appointment, check out these 5 helpful tips that you should consider before you schedule your consult appointment with a fertility specialist.
1. Find a Fertility Clinic Near You
Location. Location. Location.
Personally, this is where I messed up. I was driving over an hour, in awful HOUSTON traffic, to get to my appointments and trust me when I say this, ladies, you WILL be spending A LOT of time up there (I’m still convinced the nurses and doctors are just a bunch of vampires taking our blood for feasting). What I am trying to say is, look for a clinic that is within a reasonable distance from you.
I found my doctor through a friend (thank goodness for her ♥), and unfortunately they were located super far, but I did that drive for about 4 months. I was willing to make that drive because I trusted my friend and frankly, I wanted to use the same doctor and I am glad I did because he is AMAZING! However, the clinic did a renovation in that office location, and I was redirected to another location, and it was the perfect location because the clinic was only 15 minutes from my house! Save time and gas money.
Plus, these nurses become your family. They are going to be one of your biggest allies. I promise you will thank me later for this one (and #4). 🙂
There are exceptions to everything and I will say, there is definitely an exception to this tip. If you know a facility is top notch or heard the staff is incredible like in my case, and you are okay and committed to make the 45 minute drive out there then you can rethink this tip. However, make sure it is worth all that extra time because again, you will be making lots of trips up there for a quick 15 minute appointment for some blood work and a quick ultra sound. I was able to have best of both worlds thanks to the renovation and I understand how blessed I am for that. This is how I know how important location is.
So take location and recommendation in consideration if you have options!!
2. Get Recommendations From Friends or Family
Like I said above, this is how I found my doctor and I could not recommend this more when looking. I understand that not everyone knows someone going through infertility but if you do, recommendations are great.
Try asking your friends, doctors, local support groups or even your insurance agency (they might be able to help you find someone in network).
The more you ask around, the more options and advice you will stumble on 🙂
3. Find Out What Treatments The Facility Offers
Make sure you know what treatments the clinic offers.
Do you have a specific treatment in mind that you have heard has great results and you would like to try?
If so, make sure the clinic you pick offers that as a treatment option.
The last thing you want is to get comfortable and settled in with your nurses and doctor just to find out they do not have the services you are looking for.
4. Make Sure They Offer Support Services
ATTENTION! IMPORTANT INFORMATION AHEAD.
Okay, do I have your attention?
O.M.G. this a big one.
I got lucky with the support services at my clinic!!
I would have never thought about asking for information on any support services until I realized how amazing the portal my clinic uses is. It might be too good, I feel like I message the nurses every day. Anytime I get nervous because I started spotting, or I want to make sure I am taking my Letrozole correctly, I just pop onto the portal and send my nurse the question, and she gets right back to me.
It really puts you at ease knowing how accessible the nurses and support team are. I am able to, not just message my nurses, but my medications I am taking are all listed in the portal, all my lab results, it really, truly makes this stressful and emotional experience significantly easier.
Below is a screen grab of the portal my clinic uses. Also, as you can see, my clinic is Aspire HFI – for all my Houston, Texas readers ♥♥
5. Find Out Cost $$
Some people may think this is obvious but it needs to be said.
Find out what insurances the clinic you are looking at takes (then make sure to contact your insurance agency to see if you will even be covered and for what treatments/services). *Some insurances will cover the visits and the blood work but will not cover the treatment.
Then you want to find out what the out of pocket price is.
Ask them, if you end up doing any testing, who do they do the testing through. There is a chance that they do testing through a different provider and you may have to pay a price that is not included in the clinic’s fee. This happened to me. I got the bill in the mail from LabCorp and found out that way… do not let that happen to you!
**Don’t stress about this, they most likely wont do any tests the day of your consult unless you just started your cycle and if that is the case, they will ask if you want to start today. You don’t have to say yes! You shouldn’t feel pressured to start immediately if you are not ready. 🙂
Remember, this is the consult appointment you are getting ready to schedule and most likely will have the opportunity to speak with the financial counselor at the end of your appointment.
BONUS TIP!!!
Some ladies prefer to be seen by a female doctor. Remember to ask when setting up your consult because there is a good chance that the doctor you see for your consult will be your doctor for the rest of your time at the fertility clinic.
Don’t be afraid to ask these questions and do a little research before you pick a fertility clinic.
don't forget these tips when deciding on a fertility clinic
Just a refresher on the 5 tips to picking a fertility clinic:
- Find a clinic near you
- Get recommendations
- Find out what treatments they offer
- Learn about the support services
- Ask about costs
Using everything mentioned above will help you make the best decision for you and your growing family when choosing a fertility clinic.
Let me know in the comments if these tips helped you. Would love to hear from yall! ♥
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Disclaimer: I am not a licensed medical professional, and the information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any medical concerns or questions.
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