Fertility medicine is a special branch of medicine that caters to healthy couples who are not suffering from a disease (infertility is still listed as a condition and not as a disease) and is available as an optional, even boutique therapy.
The WHO data indicate that 15 percent of people suffer from some form of subfertility and seek treatment for it. This is a large population group that is looking for specialized medical care. According to the rules of economics, the demand for treatment means that several fertility centers have emerged to meet this special need for elective treatment, which still does not qualify as a disease and has very few insurance policies covering this aspect of medical treatment. . .
Because it is not an emergency or life-threatening condition, couples usually have enough time and resources to choose the place of treatment.
The question is whether our couples seek fertility treatment and choose well?
Are they able to prioritize the essentials out of the frills and look for the best places to undergo this treatment? What are the factors to consider before getting to zero at that one center from a range of available facilities? Here are some tips to help couples.
See if the clinic has a full-time consultant. It will help to have your doctor up to date when you need important steps, and it is better if they are focused on one clinic. Do not look at self-declared results or outcomes. Looking at independent reviews, it will help you to gather the actual information about the clinic.
The first consultation is the keystone. If your doctor has given you time to look through your papers, medical history, explain the reasons for subfertility to you, and chart a path, this is the place to stay. How the clinic staff and the doctors handle your questions is also very important. Communication is the key to a good understanding of the process and development of trust. Make sure there was clear communication and opportunity to ask doubts and questions. Gone are the days when doctors could wipe out patients with an understandable prescription. If your doctor has explained the way forward to you and recorded those essential details that you can follow later, it shows a systematic and focused approach.
Another important thing to check is whether the clinic has an internal pathology / pharmacy / counseling / andrologist facility. This ensures that the couple does not have to run around for several things and the clinic becomes a one-stop solution.
One important but not often discussed point is embryology. Find out if the clinic has a dedicated team of embryologists or they rely on a freelance person. Having a full-time embryologist means that your treatment will not be delayed, affected or adjusted according to the embryologist’s schedule. Try to check the credentials of the embryology team and if possible, ask for a word with them. It will be reassuring to another level. After all, it is the embryologist who makes your embryos in the laboratory.
IVF is a team effort. Your impression of the nurses, counselors, even the reception staff will help you to feel comfortable and assured in the IVF center of your choice.
Last but not least, the finances and transparency. A clinic that cannot give you an accurate estimate of costs is not reassuring. The financial team should be able to give you a ballpoint figure with additions at the counseling step, long before the treatment begins. It will definitely help you to plan for the treatment. As we all know, IVF is expensive. A life is created in the laboratory! It is important to choose a clinic that does not cut corners and has a clear financial plan for you. Too much discount will hurt your treatment plan and may even derail it. Stay away from the retail-flavored deals that are published dozens per cent!
On your first visit you will experience transparency, if the clinic gives you an assessment sheet with a plan of treatment and financial estimate, you can be assured that the same professionalism will go through. But do not take it for granted. Ask if the IVF details are shared and a summary is provided. This is a very important document and if its system is generated, you are assured of its authenticity.
When all is said and done, the one thing on which everything depends is to form a connection with your treating doctor. Their empathy and understanding will hold your hands through the path to fertility.
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