Fertility Clinics: An Overview

The decision to become a parent is one you and your significant other have come to with great care. Unfortunately, for some, the process of conception can be one of great stress if you have been unsuccessful for a long period of time. A fertility clinic may be just what you need if you are uncertain of the cause of your infertility and are in search of help. These clinics provide an abundance of resources for finding the source of fertility issues, fertility aid and the like.

Prior to the Visit

It's important to note that everyone conceives at different rates. You may want it to happen incredibly quick, but due to numerous factors this may not be a possibility. The fact is that there is only a 25 percent chance of becoming pregnant each month. The addition of age and fertility issues decreases this chance as well. Women over 35 should seek treatment if it has been six months of trying to no avail, while those younger should seek an evaluation if they have been trying up to two years.

If you have been struggling to conceive, the first step is not to head to a fertility clinic, but rather an evaluation by your primary care physician. Both you and your significant other will be evaluated to determine any obvious causes for infertility. These reasons include diseases that stem from the mother like a tilted uterus or low sperm count. Depending on the results you may choose to visit a fertility clinic for further tests.

Before you visit you need to understand that these treatments can be costly, so do some research with your insurance company to see if the process is covered. It's also important to note that it may take more than one attempt to become pregnant, which can also increase the fees. The last consideration is to recognize that this can be a stressful situation, and you must be prepared emotionally for the road ahead.

Finding a Clinic

Most of the time you will be referred to a fertility clinic by your primary car physician or gynecologist. However, at times these kinds of doctors are not affiliated with clinics and you will need to search on your own. A simple search online can bring up the fertility clinics in your area. You can also review the website for the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, which has an abundance of resources about fertility clinics across the nation. The site also provides information about the doctors who are employed at these clinics, for insight to their education and background. There's an option to search by city, but if you are willing to travel a statewide search is available as well.

Clinic Evaluation

Because these treatments can be pricey, it's important that you choose the best clinic. The first point of evaluation is the success rate of the clinic. The CDC creates an annual report, which can be viewed online. This will help you to determine which clinics in your area have the most successful fertility treatments. Not only that you should look for success rates for couples that are experiencing the same type of success rates for their success to be applicable. For example, a certain clinic may have the most success rate for couples with low sperm count, but if you are experiencing issues with woman's health, the rate isn't important to your case. Choosing a clinic who specializes in your specific disorder can increase your chances for becoming pregnant. It's also important to recognize that these rates are merely guides, and they can only be as successful as their patients' health issues allow.

Call your top choices to verify their mission statement and their successful birth rates. This should only include the rate of patients who take home their baby, and not those who were able to get pregnant but miscarried. The clinic should be upfront and honest about the treatments and how they can benefit you.

What to Expect

It's also important to be cognizant that everyone is different and although others may have found success, you may not. It's important that you set realistic expectations so as not to be disappointed if the treatments do not work for you. You may need to go through multiple treatments in order to become successfully pregnant; don't be disappointed if the first attempt doesn't work. Ask a lot of questions to ensure you know the exact process and what you should be expecting. Don't rush into the experience, if you are unsure of something, take the time to think it over. Using a fertility clinic to increase your chances of pregnancy increases the stress of the situation.

About the Author: Beth A. Stevens is a contributing author. After years of struggling with infertility and a search of fertility clinics in Tampa Florida, she found the right match after visiting 5245 E. Fletcher Ave.