When you’re at the point of choosing a fertility clinic, there are a lot of emotions to deal with. Excitement, hope, anxiety, and fear are all normal and healthy feelings to have at this time. You are ready to start a family of your own and you need some help — there are hundreds of thousands of people who have been there.
In most bigger cities you won’t just have one option when you look for artificial insemination clinics or other fertility treatments. There will be a few doctors who will offer their experience and specialization with hopeful couples or individuals.
The problem is: who do I go with?
Recommendations
You should feel comfortable asking your family doctor for a recommended clinic. He or she has a whole database of patients, some whom have gone through the same thing as you. Surely there are a few names of clinics that can be put forward. It’s a good topic to discuss with your family doctor regardless, as you will likely be needing more medical information and history from their office once you move forward.
Consultations
Consultations are generally complimentary, so feel free to go to as many as you feel is necessary to find the right place and the right staff. Take the time to meet the doctors and nurses on board, ask about their treatments, the process, and what differentiates them from other places. You have the right to be straightforward with your questions because this is a difficult journey and you need to be comfortable with the company you keep along the way.
Level of Involvement
Are you looking for a clinic that will take you from conception until birth? Or do you already have an OB or midwife in mind? See the timelines offered and where the care begins and ends. Knowing how handoff and transition of care will occur beforehand eliminates any unneeded stress or change of expectations last minute.
Easy Access
The location and your ease of access to your clinic can become an important factor if you rely on public or alternative transportation. Depending on your treatment, you can be visiting quite often, and knowing that you can get there easily can be another way to avoid stress. While you should never trade-off easy access for quality of care, if you are on the fence between two, go with the one which allows you to visit comfortably.
Take your time and do your research when choosing a fertility clinic. You are in a way entrusting your future to them and having the right team around you can make a world of a difference.
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