Infertility clinics can provide the help that some couples or individuals need to conceive and have a successful pregnancy.
They can work with couples who have been trying to get pregnant on their own for a few months with no results, or individuals or same sex couples who wish to have children.
While they do tend to be most common in larger metropolitan areas, it is likely that most hopeful parents will have a clinic within a few hours drive of their home.
The following guide can help you find the clinic that is most suited to your needs.
One of the best ways to find out about local clinics is to talk to your regular doctor or OBGYN.
They may have a relationship with local infertility clinics, and can provide you with referrals and talk to you about what to expect on your first visit.
If your general practitioner does not have any recommendations, talking to your insurance company or the local staff at your hospital can be a great way to get advice about the best clinics in your area.
New patients to infertility clinics should be aware that the success rates can vary widely depending on the doctors and the types of treatments that the clinic uses.
Patients should feel free to contact any prospective clinics before scheduling an appointment to talk about the types of treatments that they are comfortable performing and the success rates that they have experienced for each of them.
These rates, coupled with any online reviews that you can find about the quality of the staff and the facilities are a good way to narrow down your options before making an initial appointment for a consultation.
Some hopeful parents-to-be may even opt to visit infertility clinics that are a little farther away in order to access a more well-regarded facility.
Once you have selected the facility that you will use, you can schedule your initial appointment.
In many cases, these appointments will include a discussion of your overall health, the length of time that you have been trying to conceive, and any treatments that you have undergone so far.
Not only will this provide your doctor with a sense of how he or she should proceed, this is also a good time to get a sense of your comfort level with your new physician.
This can be a very personal and emotionally trying experience, so finding a doctor who is willing to answer your questions with honesty and compassion is crucial.
Finding the best infertility clinics in your area can not only increase your chances of conception, it can also help to relieve your stress during the often difficult process of getting pregnant.
New patients should be aware that many treatments will not be covered by insurance, so be sure to ask about fees, billing practices and payment options.