Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Questions to Ask When Selecting an ART Provider or Clinic

These questions will help you learn more about a fertility clinic, its services, and staff.

Procedures and Services

What procedures do you currently offer that may fit with my/our needs?
How much experience do you have with these procedures?
What are your current success rates with these procedures?
What are your criteria for accepting new patients? (Is there a waiting list? Age limits? Single or married?)
What tests are required for my care? Will you accept results performed by others?
Do you have or help arrange for gestational carriers (Surrogates)?
Do you have or help arrange for obtaining donor eggs, embryos or sperm?
Do you offer elective single embryo transfer?
What would be an optimal schedule for the ART procedure I (we) would have?
If I (we) need storage of eggs/embryos or sperm, what are the costs for storage?
What types of counseling and support services are available?

Care and Treatment

How many physicians will be involved in my care?
Are the physicians providing my care board-certified? Are any specialists in reproductive endocrinology?
How will the clinic work with my current health care provider (i.e., OB/GYN, or urologist)?
What staff members are available to answer my questions about treatment, services, tests, and medication?

Costs and Financing

Do you have cost estimate for the tests and procedures I (we) may need?
What are your available payment options?
Do you accept insurance and if so, for what tests, medications and procedures?

Affiliations

Does the clinic follow American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) practice guidelines?
Is the clinic currently a member of a national organization or medical society?

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Related Links

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Library of Medicine
The National Library of Medicine’s, MedlinePlus, offers information on infertility including drugs and medications, medical terms, and other resources for care, support, and decision making.
Clinicaltrials.gov
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains this registry of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world. Searching the ClinicalTrials.gov database gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and contact information to obtain more details about clinical trials on infertility and related health problems.
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) promotes and advances the standards for the practice of assisted reproductive technology to the benefit of patients, members and society at large.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is a multidisciplinary organization for the advancement of information, education, advocacy and standards in the field of reproductive medicine.
American Fertility Association
The American Fertility Association (AFA) is a national consumer organization that offers support for men and women dealing with infertility. Their purpose is to educate the public about reproductive disease and support families during struggles with infertility and adoption.
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
RESOLVE is a national consumer organization that offers support for men and women dealing with infertility. Their purpose is to provide timely, compassionate support and information to people who are experiencing infertility and to increase awareness of infertility issues through public education and advocacy.
Fertile Hope
Fertile Hope is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.
American Urological Association Foundation
The American Urological Association Foundation provides educational services and referrals to benefit patients with male infertility.