|
| |
Tips for choosing a Clinic
 | Compare infertility treatment costs with the services offered. |
| Are counselling services included in the cost? |
| What information is available in printed form? |
| Are the costs itemised in an understandable form and when are payments due? |
| Can there be a waiting time for the procedure? (Some clinics have a few months wait.) |
| Is the clinic closed at certain times of the year eg Christmas, Easter, and conference
times etc? |
| Is the clinic open seven days a week to perform pickups and transfers, the timing of
which may affect your success? |
| What is the infertility experience and qualifications of the specialist and does he work
on a roster system or can he guarantee you that he will carry out the procedure? Some
specialists may only be obstetricians and do not have in-depth experience with infertility
or male factor infertility in particular. Ask also what male infertility experience and
qualifications the specialist has. (It may be necessary to be referred separately to a
male infertility specialist.) |
| What information is available from the scientific team and what are their
qualifications? |
| What research is carried out at the clinic and are any of the procedures offered on a
trial basis and will you be asked to participate? |
| What are the success rates for the clinic? (Do not just accept an Australian average
figure.) Ask also how many procedures have been performed this way at the clinic or by the
doctor. |
| Ask up to what point in a cycle can the cycle be cancelled and what are the out of
pocket costs. |
| Ask when the staff are available at the clinic to talk. |
| Establish what happens in the case of an emergency. |
| How do staff answer questions? |
| What levels of monitoring do they do for your procedure eg FSH, progesterone, oestrogen,
measuring lining, use of ultrasounds etc? |
| Who does the laboratory work with ART and what are their qualifications? Some
specialists occasionally defrost embryos at times. |
| Does the clinic offer satellite facilities? Even though you live some distance from the
clinic of your choice they may arrange for blood tests/ultrasounds to be done near your
home or clinics can share cycles, so you often do have a choice of clinics. For example
you could have a cycle tracked in Canberra with a pickup in Sydney and vice versa etc. |
| If donor sperm is required ask how much choice there is, what information you will be
given, what medical/genetic information is available and if there is a waiting time. (Some
clinics require 6 months waiting time for donor sperm, others do not.) |
.gif)
Tips for choosing a Specialist
| Compare specialist's background and training in infertility, his year's experience, his
success rates and the recommendations of others. |
| What is the infertility experience and qualifications of the specialist and does he work
on a roster system or can he guarantee you that he will carry out the procedure? Some
specialists may only be obstetricians and may not have in-depth experience with
infertility or male factor infertility in particular. |
| Ask also what male infertility experience and qualifications the specialist has. (It may
be necessary to be referred separately to a male infertility specialist.) |
| Also consider whether his style or personality would suit your needs and his itemised
lists of fees and time allocated to an appointment compared to others. |
| Consider the general waiting time to get an appointment. (Some specialists have waiting
times of up to 8 weeks so book your needs well in advance.) |
| Are the specialist's support staff friendly and helpful? |
| Is the specialist attached to one clinic or several? This may be an advantage if you
wish to transfer at some time to a second clinic. If you do want this choice you may have
to see him in his private rooms. |
| Ask if the specialist will be able to always carry out the procedure, and if not, who
will and their qualifications? |
| Establish how the specialist answers questions, explains procedures and the time that is
given. |
| Are you comfortable how the specialist responds to your emotional needs? |
| Is the specialist able to meet your needs in terms of your involvement in making
decisions and your need for information etc? |
Tips for Appointments with a
Specialist
| On your first appointment take a brief medical history to give to your specialist. (You
also usually require a referral in both partners' names.) In the history it would be
helpful to include your names, address, contact details, infertility history, operations
and dates, miscarriages, length of cycles, general health, medications you take etc. This
will save valuable time trying to give him your medical history and leave more time for
answering questions. |
| Also give the specialist a copy of any helpful reports on outcomes in previous
procedures etc. |
| Have a list of questions you wish to ask however be aware of the time allocated to the
appointment. Remember also some of your questions may be answered by reading the
information given by the clinic about the procedures you are undertaking. Other
information about risks and procedures maybe contained in the various consent forms which
you may perhaps obtain before your meeting eg IVF pickup, transfer of embryos, use of
donor eggs/sperm. The nursing staff may also be able to help you regarding some of your
questions as well. |
| Keep a record of the answers which is very reasonable given that infertility procedures
can be very complex. |
| If you wish ask if you can record the meeting. |
| If you do not understand the medical terminology ask for clarification, as it is
important that you understand what is being said to you. |
| Ask your doctor for copies of your results of procedures undertaken and other important
reports. This will help you also make decisions and is very useful if you wish to see
another doctor. If you wish also ask for copies of letters that are sent to your GP on
your progress. |
| Ask for a realistic assessment of your chance for a take home baby rate for your
circumstances, type of infertility, age, given your day 3 FSH levels etc. (Day 3 FSH
levels are often crucial factors in pregnancy success regardless of age so make sure you
know your levels.) |
| Be assertive, ask questions and make sure you understand and are active in the decision
making in your treatment. |
Other Resources
This article was researched and written by Anne
Ozscot.
|
